The Legacy of Han Dongfang: A Voice for Workers’ Rights
Han Dongfang was initially just one of many impassioned university students caught up in the wave of protests sweeping through Tiananmen Square 35 years ago. However, everything changed when he climbed atop the Monument to the People’s Heroes and began to address the crowd. “Democracy is about who decides our salaries,” he passionately declared, a rallying cry that resonated deeply with those present. “Workers should be able to take part in the decision-making process.”
This bold proclamation was among the first to highlight the plight of workers during the protests, and it signified the start of Mr. Han’s relentless pursuit of labor rights in China. His journey would soon face a cataclysmic challenge.
On June 4, 1989, just weeks after Mr. Han began his impassioned speeches, the situation took a tragic turn. The People’s Liberation Army brutally quelled the pro-democracy movement, firing on unarmed protesters in Tiananmen Square and extinguishing hope for democratic reform and free expression in China. This tragic event not only marked the end of the democratic uprising but also led to the dismantling of the independent labor union that Mr. Han had co-founded during the protests, the first of its kind since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Following the crackdown, Mr. Han found himself on a government “most wanted” list. In a courageous act of accountability, he surrendered to authorities and endured 22 months of imprisonment. His resilience and commitment to advocating for workers’ rights could not be stifled, though.
Today, at 61 years old, Mr. Han stands as one of the last prominent labor rights activists in China who is not in hiding. Despite being stripped of his Chinese passport and exiled from mainland China in 1993, he continues to champion labor rights from his base in Hong Kong. His enduring fight serves as a testament to the struggle for workers’ rights and democracy in a nation where such ideals often seem out of reach.
