Protesters object to Chinese flag being raised at Boston City Hall Plaza to mark the 70th anniversary of China's Communist regime

A Chinese flag was raised at Boston City Hall Plaza on Sunday to mark the 70th anniversary of Communist rule in China, but not all Bostonians were happy with the move.

What happened?

Boston City Hall Plaza is an open space outside of the actual City Hall. On Sunday, the Chinese Progressive Association organized the raising of the Chinese flag in order to celebrate "National Day," and the 70th anniversary of Communist rule in China.

This anniversary marks a particularly bloody period in Chinese history. At least 45 million people were killed by regime founder Mao Zedong during a four-year period as he established his government in China. The Chinese government has also attempted to crush groups it views as not being in line with its vision for China, including Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities.

Lhadon Tethong, director of the Tibet Action Institute, told WHDH-TVat a protest Sunday that she objected to the move since the Chinese flag "stands for none of the values that this country was founded on." Protesters included supporters of Tibet, Hong Kong, and the Uighur people who are all targeted by the Chinese government.


But Suzanne Lee, the founder and president emeritus of the city's Chinese Progressive Association, said the event was important to encourage the American and Chinese people to "learn from each other and understand each other better to promote a more peaceful world."

Meanwhile, the Chinese government is preparing for National Day by reportedly doubling the number of military troops in Hong Kong, to prevent the pro-democracy protesters in that semi-autonomous region from causing too much trouble for the regime during the celebrations. Hong Kong citizens have been protesting for months in an attempt to get China to institute democratic reforms.

This isn't the first time that the current Chinese flag, or Chinese Progressive Flag, has been raised in Boston City Hall Plaza. It has been raised within a few days of National Day for years.

According to the City Hall Plaza website, a raising of the pre-Communist takeover Republic of China flag was held at the plaza on Oct. 7, 2017, but no such event seems to be scheduled for this year.

What else?

Two months ago, a group sued the city of Boston for not allowing it to raise an interdenominational Christian flag at the same site.

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