Who We Are

About Wang Bingzhang
Grandpa Dr. Wang Bingzhang. His website- https://www.wangbingzhang.org/contact.php
Defending Freedoms Project: In December 2012 the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, in conjunction with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Amnesty International USA, launched the Defending Freedoms Project (DFP) to support prisoners of conscience around the world. DFP aims to increase attention to human rights abuses by encouraging Members of Congress to advocate on behalf of prisoners of conscience wherever they may be found. The project allows Members to stand in solidarity with prisoners of conscience, let them know they have not been forgotten, and encourage accountability for unjust treatment. In recent years the DFP coalition has expanded to include Reporters without Borders (RSF), Freedom House, Freedom Now, Scholars At Risk, PEN America and the Senate Human Rights Caucus. Dr. Wang Bingzhang is listed as one of the prisoners in China. https://humanrightscommission.house.gov/DFP/Countries/China/Wang-Bingzhang
Updates:
Recently released documentary, Inside These Walls, captures the fight of Wang Bingzhang’s family for his release (April, 6, 2017, CBC News).
Veteran democracy activist Wang Bingzhang warned his daughter, who visited him on Christmas Day, that his life is in danger in prison (December 31, 2018, Radio Free Asia).
Chinese authorities blocked Ti-Anna Wang, a daughter of Wang Bingzhang, from entering the country to visit her imprisoned father, keeping her under close surveillance in the Hangzhou airport until she was booked on a flight to South Korea (January 9, 2018, The Globe and Mail).
Canadian family and friends of Wang Bingzhang are seeking international support to nominate the activist for the Nobel Peace Prize in an effort to ensure his safety in prison (April 11, 2019, The Globe and Mail).
In July 2022, it was reported that members of Wang Bingzhang’s family had been “unofficially banned” from visiting China to see him. The family members also stated that authorities have denied him access to reading materials and “better food” (July 4, 2022, The Print).
Wang Bingzhang’s sister, Wang Yuhua, who resides in Canada, announced that their family would relaunch China Spring, the pro-democracy magazine founded by Wang Bingzhang, published from 1982 to 2004 (December 16, 2022, Radio Free Asia).
During the 38th EU-China Human Rights Dialogue the European Union called on China to immediately release multiple prisoners of conscience including Wang Bingzhang, John Cao, Ilham Tohti, Gao Zhisheng, Wang Yi, and Xu Zhiyong (February 17, 2023, European External Action Service).
In September 2023, Wang Bingzhang’s family expressed concern for his health, as he suffers from severe high blood pressure and appeared “very weak and very thin” when his daughter visited him on September 18, 2023. There is concern that the medication he recieves for his blood pressure is inadequate. His family also stated that he writes to them once per month, though letters can take upto three months to arrive due to review by the prison authorities (September 21, 2023, Radio Free Asia).
Congressman Adam Schiff sent a public letter to Dr. Wang Bingzhang on October 17th, 2024 : I am writing to let you know that I am committed to advocating for you – in the hope that we can help see you released from prison and reunited with your family.The U.S. Congress’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, of which I am a member, has an advocacy program for prisoners of conscience, called the Defending Freedoms Project. You were one of the first prisoners of conscience nominated to the Commission. I intend to use this platform, partnering with Freedom House, to highlight your case and to urge the Chinese government to grant humanitarian parole.I admire and respect your efforts to bring democratic change to China. Your work was nonetheless seen by the Chinese Communist Party as a threat to its hold on power. It has been more than 22 years since you were kidnapped in Vietnam, transported to China, and then taken into police custody. It is clear that China continues to view your call for democratic reform as a reason to silence your voice and to suppress your freedom of expression. In spite of your wrongful imprisonment and your separation from your family, I ask that you not lose hope. You are known to many people across many different countries, and your actions have compelled us to seek justice on your behalf. I am honored to stand in solidarity with your pursuit of democracy and freedom. I am in contact with your dedicated children who are steadfast in their efforts to advocate for your release. I will do my best to help them amplify their voices in this cause. If you are able to write, please let me know if there is anything we can do to ease your situation. I understand from your children that you may be suffering from health issues. I will urge the Chinese authorities to conduct a full medical exam and to take the necessary actions to ensure your health. I look forward to meeting you in person someday. In the meantime, it is my earnest wish that the knowledge of our efforts and thoughts of your wellbeing will give you some measure of comfort and solace.
Your friend and advocate. He posted this letter on his twitter, said Dr. Wang Bingzhang has spent 22 years imprisoned for advocating for democratic reform in China.As his health deteriorates, I am standing with his family and pressing for his release. And continuing to seek justice for Dr. Wang, and urging Chinese authorities to grant him humanitarian parole.https://x.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1847005229881217442 over 99k views now! Freedom House retweeted Rep. Schiff’s tweet including the open letter https://x.com/freedomhouse/status/1847304156773597591.
The family has been working tirelessly for twenty years to save him. As Ella grows up, she has also joined this effort. In May of this year, At Freedom House’s Annual Awards, Dr. Wang Bingzhang- imprisoned Chinese prodemocracy activist Dr. Wang Bingzhang was honored with the Freedom Award. https://freedomhouse.org/event/freedom-house-2024-annual-awards previously these awards were given to figures like the Dalai Lama, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Joe Biden.
Ella has been speaking at various events for bring up more awareness of her grandpa’s case, and one of her speeches garnered over 110,000 views. https://x.com/shengxue_ca/status/1838247101211328784?s=46
The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights is a unique international consortium of parliamentarians, scholars, jurists, human rights defenders, NGOs, and students united in the pursuit of justice, inspired by and anchored in Raoul Wallenberg’s humanitarian legacy. They had been involved with Dr. Wang bingzhang’s case for long time. https://www.raoulwallenbergcentre.org/en/pursuing-justice/defending-political-prisoners/wang-bingzhang
Film project: https://vimeo.com/1018580419/4b7ac6f6b0?share=copy Ella is the writer, director and main actress. This is a film about an Asian high schooler, Abi, who questions her identity and story. Her grandpa is a political activist who is currently imprisoned for fighting for freedom and democracy. She fights with herself and her family, but eventually decides that she can make change happen. As an artist, I believe the importance of art is providing my individual perspective on the world because I find that everyone has things that make them unique, and those things, like family history, culture, or identity, really impact peoples’ views in life. I think that is an important aspect of art and the reason people should create. It doesn’t matter what your skill level or style is; what matters are your unique ideas as a person. In turn, I see my art as a window into my inner world, a medium through which others can understand how I navigate life. I create to convey both my struggles and joys. Ultimately, bridging that gap is what motivates me; it’s really just my urge to overshare about my life.
Artworks- Please upload the artworks with descriptions. Can you sell them to raise funds?
Add Instagram Account link to the website
Create X account link with the website
Add Spotify account to the websites
Donation: Raising funds for activities that support Dr. Wang Bingzhang. Purchasing books & magazines for him in prison. Also local attorney fees. Travel expenses etc.
Raising funds for families in China or anywhere in the world who are suffering financially because the parents or kids were political prisoners.
