PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Visual Artists Guild to join in Pasadena's Doo-Dah Parade  to
      Call for the release of the Bridge man Peng Lifa and other White Paper protesters in China and Hong Kong

WHAT:     The Great Firewall of China Marching Brigade to join Pasadena Doo Dah Parade
WHEN:      Sunday, November 24, 2024
TIME:       10:00 a.m. if you wish to join us and be part of our marching brigade
                   Parade starts at 11 a.m.
WHERE:   Pasadena Doo-Dah Parade
                    Start: Memorial Park, Pasadena                   
                    The LA Metro’s blue “A” line stops right at the parade staging area at Memorial Park Station. Find out details at Metro.net                    
                    See Doo-Dah Parade map below

SPONSOR:         Visual Artists Guild
CO-SPONSOR: China Democracy Party

CONTACT INFORMATION:
            Ann Lau 310-433-0697 or email alau@visual-artists-guild.org
            Please arrive by 10:00 at the parade stage site at Memorial Park if you wish to join us and be part of our Marching Brigade
            Please wear black top and dark pants to participate
          
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
            The Great Firewall of China Marching Brigade will be represented at the Pasadena Doo-Dah Parade on Sunday, November 24, 2024 to bring attention to the political prisoners in China and Hong Kong.  
             In particular, we call on the release of Mr. Peng Lifa, who on October 2022 hung two large banners on Beijing's Sitong Bridge.  One banner read "We want food, not Covid tests. We want freedom, not lockdowns. We want respect, not lies. We want reform, not the Cultural Revolution. We want a vote, not a leader. We are citizens, not slaves".   The second banner read, “Go on Strike, depose the traitorous dictator Xi Jinping.” 
             Mr. Peng became China's 21st century Tank Man as a symbol of courage in standing up against the authoritarian rule in China.  His action inspired a student to just hold a white paper and stood silently in protest against China's Zero-covid policy.  Soon the White Paper protest spread throughout colleges and major cities in China and in colleges around the world where Chinese students attended.
             Ma. Peng has since been imprisoned.  Many of the White Paper protesters have also since disappeared.