This English version may have been machine-generated from the Chinese original and may not convey the original meaning accurately.
The World Cup has arrived.
Times Square is unusually crowded tonight.
Fans and tourists from all over the world have poured into the square, and the crowd has filled almost every corner. Although only 4 people showed up, finding a space to unfurl a banner was much harder than usual.
What's more unusual is that even the mobile network became congested.
Messages couldn't be sent, web pages wouldn't load, and text messages were slow to arrive.
When the Signal Disappears
In this age, we've grown accustomed to expressing ourselves through the internet.
Yet tonight, when the network failed us, we still stood there.
This makes me think that expression has never existed only online.
When a person is willing to show up in person and openly declare their stance, that in itself is the most direct form of speaking out.
No signal doesn't mean no voice.
Another Thought Amid the Crowd
The World Cup brings people from different countries together to cheer for what they love.
Standing in the crowd, I thought about how, in this world, there are still many people who cannot freely express their views, cannot freely discuss public affairs, and cannot even freely access information.
For those living in free societies, expression is an utterly ordinary thing; but for others, it is not so.
Tonight, we searched through the crowd for a spot where we could stand.
And freedom, sometimes, is just like that.
Space may be limited, but there are always those willing to persist.
The 51st Time
Starting from our first action on June 30, 2025, today marks the 51st time.
The World Cup will eventually end, the crowds will eventually disperse, and the network will return to normal.
But concern for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law should not fade away once the excitement is over.
When the signal disappears, we are still speaking out.
The 51st time, recorded here.
Next Monday, the 52nd time, we will still be here.