I just found out he is free and honestly my hands are shaking so much I can barely type this out into the window. It feels like the air is lighter because reading those poems was always such a heavy weight to carry around in my head. We have to …
March 18, 2012
Final supporters
His Excellency Ambassador Zhang Yesui
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States
3505 International Place, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008
Via email at [email protected]
Dear Ambassador: We, the undersigned, request the immediate and unconditional release of the poet Zhu Yufu, imprisoned by the People’s Republic of China in January 2012 for the peaceful exercise of his right to self-expression and free speech.
We are appalled if no longer surprised that a nation with such a deep and abiding connection to its poetry would consider the composition of It's Time to constitute a crime against the state:
It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
The Square belongs to everyone.
With your own two feet
It’s time to head to the Square and make your choice
It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
A song belongs to everyone.
From your own throat
It’s time to voice the song in your heart
It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
China belongs to everyone.
Of your own will
It’s time to choose what China shall be.
The People’s Republic should know by now that the censored word speaks loudest. Please remind your Government that each act of repression against the writers, journalists and human rights defenders targeted for detention, abuse and silencing violates Article 35 of the Chinese constitution, which states that
"Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration."
and of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
Again, we request the immediate and unconditional release of the poet Zhu Yufu, imprisoned by the People’s Republic of China in January 2012 for the peaceful exercise of his right to self- expression and free speech.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 5, 2012
March 1, 2012
I find myself re-reading the poem he wrote over and over and thinking about how a handful of lines can terrify a whole apparatus of power which is just wild when you really let it sink in. Honestly the inbox has been a mess of messages from people sharing their own favorite poets who were silenced and it makes me realize this is about way more than just one man even if he is the one I am fixated on right now. I am working on a way to organize all those names so we can show them that we are not going to look away.
Reached 100 supporters
February 10, 2012
12 Comments
FREE ZHU YUFU NOW. Censorship is a cowardly way to run a country.
Thinking of all the writers locked away in china. release them all.
Poetry is not a crime. Let him go.
Absolutely ridiculous that he is in prison just for writing a poem. The world is watching.
No one should lose their freedom for speaking their mind. His words belong to the people.
We stand with the prisoner, never with the guards.
please free Zhu Yufu
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I just found out he is free and honestly my hands are shaking so much I can barely type this out into the window. It feels like the air is lighter because reading those poems was always such a heavy weight to carry around in my head. We have to …
March 18, 2012
Final supporters
His Excellency Ambassador Zhang Yesui
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States
3505 International Place, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008
Via email at [email protected]
Dear Ambassador: We, the undersigned, request the immediate and unconditional release of the poet Zhu Yufu, imprisoned by the People’s Republic of China in January 2012 for the peaceful exercise of his right to self-expression and free speech.
We are appalled if no longer surprised that a nation with such a deep and abiding connection to its poetry would consider the composition of It's Time to constitute a crime against the state:
It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
The Square belongs to everyone.
With your own two feet
It’s time to head to the Square and make your choice
It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
A song belongs to everyone.
From your own throat
It’s time to voice the song in your heart
It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
China belongs to everyone.
Of your own will
It’s time to choose what China shall be.
The People’s Republic should know by now that the censored word speaks loudest. Please remind your Government that each act of repression against the writers, journalists and human rights defenders targeted for detention, abuse and silencing violates Article 35 of the Chinese constitution, which states that
"Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration."
and of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
Again, we request the immediate and unconditional release of the poet Zhu Yufu, imprisoned by the People’s Republic of China in January 2012 for the peaceful exercise of his right to self- expression and free speech.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 5, 2012
March 1, 2012
I find myself re-reading the poem he wrote over and over and thinking about how a handful of lines can terrify a whole apparatus of power which is just wild when you really let it sink in. Honestly the inbox has been a mess of messages from people sharing their own favorite poets who were silenced and it makes me realize this is about way more than just one man even if he is the one I am fixated on right now. I am working on a way to organize all those names so we can show them that we are not going to look away.
Reached 100 supporters
February 10, 2012
12 Comments
Please free poet Zhu Yufu. Everybody should be able to speak freely. Freedom of speech is the gauge of how free we truly are. Freedom of speech is more sacred than the right to vote.
FREE ZHU YUFU NOW. Censorship is a cowardly way to run a country.
Thinking of all the writers locked away in china. release them all.
Poetry is not a crime. Let him go.
Absolutely ridiculous that he is in prison just for writing a poem. The world is watching.
No one should lose their freedom for speaking their mind. His words belong to the people.
We stand with the prisoner, never with the guards.
please free Zhu Yufu
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Please free poet Zhu Yufu. Everybody should be able to speak freely. Freedom of speech is the gauge of how free we truly are. Freedom of speech is more sacred than the right to vote.