On the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the "Goddess of Democracy" statue, which symbolizes the democratic struggle in Tiananmen Square in 1989, reappeared in Berlin, evoking collective memories of freedom and human rights. On November 7, next to the Berlin City Parliament Building and the remains of the Berlin Wall, the statue became the connection point between history and reality. The statue stands not only as a memorial to the Chinese democratic movement, but also as a symbol of the spirit of global democratic struggle. In front of the "Goddess of Democracy" statue, people relived the profound connection between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Tiananmen struggle, and paid tribute to the brave struggle of the people of the two countries in 1989. The event brought together leaders of the June 4th student movement, German human rights organizations and political representatives, who jointly commemorated the deceased democratic fighters and discussed new democratic challenges.

East Germany's support for the Tiananmen Incident: Transnational Echoes of History

Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reaction of the people of East Germany to the Tiananmen Incident showed the common demands of the people of the two countries in the face of oppression. On June 3-4, 1989, the protests in Tiananmen Square were crushed by tanks, causing a large number of casualties, which triggered anger and solidarity among the East German people. Cornelia Seibold, president of the Berlin City Council, recalled the situation at the time: ordinary citizens held many protests and tried to go to the Chinese Embassy in East Germany to express their support. These demonstrations were intercepted under the close monitoring of the people's police and the state security department, and some protesters were arrested or even beaten. But despite this, the people of East Berlin continued to express their solidarity with the Chinese protesters through letters, signatures, prayers, etc.

The East German authorities tried to control the situation, claiming that China's repression was to "restore order" and tried to suppress the people's opposition. However, the protests of ordinary citizens against the Tiananmen incident became a catalyst for the East German democratic movement and also promoted the process of East Germany's freedom. The exhibition in Berlin shows how the East German people responded to China's democratic struggle with actions through text, images and other materials. This transnational resonance is not only a commemoration of the history of the two countries, but also a reflection on the global democratic movement.

The symbol of the Goddess of Democracy: a cry for freedom across borders

During the Tiananmen protests in 1989, Chinese art students built the "Goddess of Democracy" statue in the square to symbolize the people's desire for democracy and freedom. The statue stood opposite the portrait of Mao Zedong in front of Tiananmen, symbolizing resistance to oppression, but was destroyed by the army in the early morning of June 4. More than 30 years later, this statue symbolizing freedom reappeared in Berlin, not only as a commemoration of past struggles, but also as a symbol of the democratic spirit that transcends time and space. At the opening ceremony of the event, Zhou Fengsuo, a leader of the June 4th student movement, lamented: "Although the Goddess of Democracy was destroyed, the spirit of freedom she represented has not disappeared." He said that when the news of the fall of the Berlin Wall reached Chinese prisons, the students cheered in unison despite being imprisoned, because that moment symbolized the decline of autocracy and the victory of democracy.

This statue is not just a sculpture, but also a symbol of free will. In the exhibition area in Berlin, people can see historical objects and archival materials of the democratic struggle, and review the connection between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Tiananmen struggle. Through these exhibits, the organizers hope to arouse visitors' cherishment of freedom and inspire the younger generation to continue to uphold democratic values.

Voices of a new generation of exiles: different battlefields of global democratic struggles

In this commemorative event, Huang Yicheng, a new generation of exiles from China, also participated. As a participant in the "White Paper Revolution", he is currently applying for political asylum in Germany. In an interview, he pointed out that the Tiananmen Movement was not only a struggle in China, but also part of the global democratic movement in 1989, representing the resistance of ordinary people to the authoritarian regime. Huang Yicheng emphasized that although China's democratic struggle ended in failure, the struggle has never stopped. Today's White Paper Revolution is the re-struggle of the younger generation of China against autocracy. He believes that this is part of the global democratic movement, and people from different countries are fighting for common democratic ideals on different battlefields.

Huang Yicheng pointed out that the struggles in East Germany and China in 1989 were similar: people expressed their yearning for democracy in peaceful protests, but won in East Germany, while the struggle in China was bloodily suppressed. Huang Yicheng's speech made the German people present realize the global and lasting nature of the struggle for democracy, and also gave new meaning to the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Universal values of the democratic movement: a common pursuit across languages and cultures

In his speech, Anjie Shipman, executive director of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation in Berlin, mentioned that the Tiananmen Incident did not make the East German people retreat, but instead inspired their will to fight. The East Germans' support for the Tiananmen struggle and the victory of freedom after the fall of the Berlin Wall showed the world the universal value of democracy. Shipman pointed out that in the exhibition area of the Berlin Wall site, visitors can learn the truth about the 1989 Tiananmen Incident by watching media reports and eyewitness oral materials of the year. She mentioned that the Statue of Democracy symbolizes the hope of freedom, and the historical memory of the fall of the Berlin Wall reminds people that the pursuit of democracy knows no borders or languages.

After the June 4th Incident, the fall of the Berlin Wall was seen as a victory for the global democratic movement. However, the shadow of autocracy has not completely dissipated. This event is not only to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall, but also to show the world that the global democratic struggle is still going on. Zhou Fengsuo said in his speech that these struggles across languages and cultures are a resonance of the pursuit of freedom. In the exhibition area, people can see the continuous efforts of democratic fighters to pursue fairness and justice from Tiananmen to the White Paper Revolution, and experience the fearless spirit of the struggle for freedom.

Prospects for the global democratic movement: from commemoration to action

The history of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Tiananmen struggle echoed each other, inspiring countless people to devote themselves to the movement of democracy and human rights. This commemoration was held in Berlin, symbolizing the continued pursuit of democracy and freedom. As Huang Yicheng said, "The battlefields of the global democratic movement may be different, but their essence is the same." Whether the struggles of East Germany and China succeed or fail, they are part of the democratic movement and inspire people everywhere to defend their rights.

The commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is not only a recollection of the past, but also a prospect for the future. By commemorating the Berlin and Tiananmen protests, the organizers hope to remind people that the challenge of despotism still exists and the pursuit of freedom must continue. This event sends a message to the world: the lessons of history and the value of freedom are common, and every generation has the responsibility to resist oppression and pursue democracy.