Thank you all for being here, this afternoon, to show solidarity and offer support to me, and my family, especially to my husband, Yang Jianli. Two long years have passed in the absence of my husband. There has not been a day that has gone by without my thinking of him and without my children asking for their father. We miss him very much. We miss him very much! But, because of the care and love of thousands of American people, my church, my work place at Harvard, and my children's schools, it has been possible for me to face the loneliness and uncertainty. And my children have been so well cared for. Today, as we mark the second anniversary of my husband’s detention in China, I want to say how much I appreciate the remarkable progress and hard work of so many kind people right here on Capitol Hill and across the world in their unceasing efforts to free my husband. In particular, I want to thank my attorney, Jared Genser of Freedom Now, a classmate of Jianli's at Harvard and good friend. He has worked indefatigably on Jianli’s behalf. I want to thank Congressman Chris Cox and my Representative, Congressman Barney Frank, for leading this fight for justice and fairness. As Jared said, they have been with me every step of the way. I want to thank also the entire U.S. Congress for their continuing and unrelenting efforts in this endeavor. And, lastly, I want to thank President Bush, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, and other members of the administration for their genuine sympathy and ongoing negotiations with the Chinese Government on my husband's behalf. Today is a sad day, but it is also a day of hope. My husband’s trial, as you know, was held eight months ago, and we have not received a verdict, thereby exceeding the time limitations of Chinese law. Yet I am hopeful. I am hopeful because I believe that the winds of change are blowing through my beloved homeland of China. I believe, at this moment in history, that China is undergoing a noble struggle between the forces of oppression and the forces of freedom, as she seeks to respect the rule of law and to recognize the inherent dignity of every individual and his inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I believe, with all of my heart, that Good will prevail. Please join me in continuing to pray for my husband’s release and for the Chinese leadership. Thank you very much, again, for coming. Your compassion and support will always be dear to my heart. God bless America . . . and God bless China. . . Christina
-------------------------- |
