This English version may have been machine-generated from the Chinese original and may not convey the original meaning accurately.
On the evening of October 14, 2026, the China Democratic Party held a special rally at Times Square (Father Duffy Square) in New York to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Participants chanted slogans at the site, calling for an end to one-party dictatorship and the establishment of constitutional democracy.
Why Commemorate Dr. King
On the day of the rally, the National Committee of the China Democratic Party issued a political statement, signed by party chairman Wang Juntao, titled “Paying Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.: Learning from His Pioneering Spirit and Exploring a New Path for China’s Democratic Revolution.” The statement said that Dr. King’s contribution lay not only in advancing the ideals of freedom and equality, but also in transforming moral convictions into social power and turning peaceful resistance into an effective means of promoting institutional self-correction.
The statement also pointed out that the environment faced by China’s democratic movement is entirely different from that of Dr. King’s America: in mainland China, opponents have no freedom to form political parties openly, there are no independent media outlets, and even peaceful gatherings and the public expression of dissent can result in persecution. Therefore, learning from Dr. King does not mean mechanically imitating the forms of his actions, but inheriting his creative spirit in opening up space for political action.
The statement further noted that the Democratic Party insists on holding street protests in public spaces in free societies, such as Times Square and Washington, in order to create an independent space for political expression while the Chinese Communist Party blocks the voices of the Chinese people; what cannot be said openly on the mainland must be said in the free world.
At the Scene: Slogans and Opening Remarks
The rally began to stirring music. Chief coordinator Wang Yuanhao led the chants, and the participants responded in unison: Constitutional democracy, equality for all; long live freedom, long live democracy; stop the repression, stop the persecution; end dictatorship, end tyranny. There were also slogans calling for Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party to step down.
The hosts, Qiu Youxi and his wife, then delivered the opening remarks. The hosts recalled that 62 years ago on this day, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and evaluated his nonviolent resistance as follows:
He creatively used nonviolent resistance to tear apart the iron curtain of racial segregation. With his profound love and courage, he demonstrated to the world the power of truth and justice.
—— Hosts
The hosts said that, faced with racial segregation and the violence of authoritarian power, Dr. King did not retreat. With a commitment to nonviolence, he declared war on a system that deprived people of their dignity; the members of the China Democratic Party standing here today are here to carry on that indomitable spirit. The hosts also quoted Dr. King’s warning:
Dr. King warned the world that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
—— Hosts
The hosts said that the participants had come forward to tell those in power that intimidation cannot frighten people who yearn for freedom, and expressed the hope that the sunlight of constitutional democracy and peace would illuminate every inch of Chinese soil. Hou Gaiying spoke afterward.
During the latter half of the rally, participants held Dr. King banners and chanted slogans together. The content of the slogans ranged from rejecting imperial rule to asserting who should hold power:
Freedom belongs to the people. Freedom belongs to the people. Power belongs to the people. Power belongs to the people.
—— Slogans at the scene
The chanting also included “China does not need an emperor,” as well as calls to end tyranny and one-party dictatorship. Near the conclusion, the crowd voiced a demand for Xi Jinping to face trial:
Put Xi Jinping on trial. Put Xi Jinping on trial.
—— Slogans at the scene
Afterward, the participants again chanted “constitutional democracy, equality for all,” called for the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping to step down, and concluded with “end tyranny” and “long live freedom.”
Conclusion
In the Democratic Party’s statement, overseas street actions of this kind are not merely commemorations, but also a form of expression: every protest should not only express anger, but also spread the truth, seek support, and remain focused on the future. On this evening in Times Square, the participants used the commemoration of Dr. King to shout these demands to the passersby around them.