100 UCSD Students Rally in Support of Protesters in China

In a show of solidarity with their student brethren in Beijing, about 100 Chinese students at UC San Diego marched through the campus Friday to protest the Chinese government’s decision to institute martial law to quell pro-democracy demonstrations.

Thrusting their fists in the air and chanting “Long live freedom, long live democracy” and “We love China, we love Chinese students,” the students marched for about a half-mile through the middle of campus.

About 50 students--clad in headbands with slogans attacking Chinese government leaders and waving placards with similar phrases--unfurled two banners at noon which read: “Fully Support Chinese Students in Beijing” and “Hunger Strikers Are Dying.”

Group Grew to 100

The group swelled to about 100 a half-hour later as the demonstrators left the Price Student Center for the International Center, and then to Revelle Plaza, where they sang “We Shall Overcome.”

The demonstrators--nearly half of the 229 Chinese national students enrolled at UCSD--held the rally in the wake of a report Friday that martial law would be imposed in Beijing.

The marchers, a loose coalition from various groups, included members of the Chinese Student and Scholar Assn.

Many marchers wore yellow banners across their chests that called for the resignation of China’s senior government leader, Deng Xiaoping, and Premier Li Peng.

Word on Friday that martial law was being imposed in Tian An Men Square in Beijing, where students have been engaged in protests for nearly a month, brought concern from Chinese students at UCSD.

‘A Wrong Decision’

“The government made a wrong decision,” said Suisheng Zhao, a 35-year-old graduate student in political science. Zhao, who was an assistant professor of economics at Beijing University until 1986, said the situation was being closely monitored by Chinese students here.

“Martial law is not the way to govern the modern society,” Zhao said. “It’s a real authoritarian measure, and it’s going to put the society in a backward motion.”

Another demonstrator shared Zhao’s view.

“They (Deng and Peng) actually announced themselves as enemies to the people and of democracy,” said Ming Wu, a graduate student in experimental physics.

Wu, 45, who lived in Beijing 20 years, said that, regardless of the two leaders’ decision, democratic reforms will move forward at the behest of the people.

“People have shown their determination for democracy and nobody can suppress that,” Wu said. “The only future for China is economic reform, advancement and political opportunity.”

Wu expressed admiration for the student demonstrators in Beijing.

“We feel they are the real heroes, and we are concerned about them,” Wu said. “There is a real possibility that there could be bloodshed or a harsh crackdown.”