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| Recipients of the 2020 and 2021 Lin Zhao Freedom Award (Photo: ChinaAid) |
(ChinaAid, Washington, DC—December 7, 2021) In Washington, DC, ChinaAid awards Gao Zhisheng and Zhang Zhan the Lin Zhao Freedom award at the “Crisis Demands Action” luncheon on December 7. In the presence of US lawmakers and advocacy groups, families of prisoners and exiled Chinese human rights lawyers will testify to the Chinese Communist Party’s cruelty. Then, in order to stand against China’s unanswered cruelty, Ambassador Brownback will introduce a campaign for advertisers to boycott the Beijing Olympics.
The Lin Zhao Freedom award recognizes contemporary Chinese figures who are committed to promoting Chinese civil society and to progressing rule of law. Gao Zhisheng, a renowned lawyer, forcibly disappeared four years ago after representing Christians and other minorities for years. Chinese officials arrested Zhang Zhan in 2019 for her coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. She now suffers from her ongoing hunger strike which threatens her life.
Geng He, Gao’s wife, will receive the award on her husband’s behalf, and Cao Yaxue, founder of China Change, will receive on Zhang Zhan’s behalf. Shi Minglei will attend the luncheon with the wives of other prisoners of conscience: Li Aijie, Luo Shengchun, and Li Hua—all speaking on behalf of their husbands’ injustice. Ren Ruiting, a former congregant of Chinese house church Early Rain Covenant Church, will attend and testify of her experience with religious restriction in Xi Jinping’s China. Blind human rights lawyer Cheng Guangcheng also plans to speak on rule of law in China. Vicky Hartzler and Chris Smith from the US House of Representatives will speak on behalf of millions of Chinese prisoners of conscience.
In order to take action on behalf of these prisoners of conscience, Ambassador Sam Brownback will encourage multi-faith action by asking advertisers to boycott the Olympics unless the Chinese government releases these prisoners of conscience.
ChinaAid will live stream the event on their Facebook page at 12 PM EST.
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