Press Release (June 9, 2015)
By: Association of Overseas Hong Kong Chinese for Democracy & Human Rights (AOHK)
Subject: Inquiries & reporting about change of venue of a presentation by Dr. Teng Biao, human rights activist and lawyer in China & a visiting fellow at Harvard Law School, as a result of last minute cancellation by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government
1. AOHK has proudly organized the annual 6/4 Memorial and Candlelight Vigil for the last 26 years.
2. Since 1989, 25 of the 26 Memorials have been consistently hosted on Harvard grounds (first being on MIT grounds in 1990). We are grateful to local institutions for providing access to their facilities so that the general public as well as members of the campus community can share these solemn moments with invited speakers.
3. This year, through help by members of the Harvard community, AOHK initially received confirmation 2 weeks ago, that the Starr Auditorium, Harvard Kennedy School of Government had been reserved and could be used for this purpose. The invited speaker, Dr. Teng Biao, human rights activist and lawyer in China, is currently a visiting fellow at Harvard Law School.
4. The day before the event, however, we received notification that Harvard Kennedy School of Government had invalidated the reservation. We were advised to seek alternative location for the event.
5. Despite the loss of access to the Starr Auditorium with short notice, the Memorial & Candlelight Vigil of 6/4/15, along with Dr. Teng's speech, were well attended and received by more than 60 attendees, on the doorsteps to Belfer Building, literally at the main entrance of Harvard Kennedy School of Government. (Cambridge Police Department had been notified June 4 PM).
6. Although the event went very well as a result of every participant's effort and support, AOHK organizers would like to extend our apologies to those who may have been inconvenienced, or confused, by this last minute change of venue.
7. AOHK is puzzled and disappointed by this last minute cancellation of a scheduled use of its facility by Harvard Kennedy School. As organizers we will not speculate on the possible reason(s). Nor do we have any plans to pursue further answers. We do appreciate Harvard for what it has contributed, for the last 25 years, to the AOHK's mission of seeking justice, democracy and human rights in Hong Kong and China.
8. AOHK has and will continue to pick the most appropriate location for hosting future activities, in cooperation with institutions sharing our mission.
9. AOHK believes that the Annual Memorial & Candlelight Vigil, in memory of those befallen in the fight for justice, democracy and human rights in China can NEVER be stopped. This tradition will continue as long as even one citizen from around the globe remembers that the government of Beijing murdered students and its own citizens en masse on June 4, 1989