On October 13, 2022, Peng Lifa (Peng Zaizhou) hung a large banner on Beijing’s Sitong Bridge with the message: “We need food, not COVID tests; we need reform, not the Cultural Revolution; we need freedom, not lockdowns; we need votes, not leaders; we need dignity, not lies; we are citizens, not slaves.” (Online image)
People News — October 13th of this year marks the two-year anniversary of the Peng Zaizhou protest on Beijing’s Sitong Bridge. In commemoration, the overseas group Chinese Democracy Party organized a protest outside the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles, playing a Chinese song titled Leave It to Us, Peng Zaizhou, to protest the two-year detention of Peng Zaizhou by the Chinese government.
According to Radio Free Asia, the song’s creator and performer is Gray, a young guitarist and singer from Boston, Massachusetts. Known as “Teacher Gray” due to his online guitar lessons and original Chinese and English songs, he has gained modest popularity on social media both in China and abroad.
What exactly is the meaning behind Leave It to Us, Peng Zaizhou? Why did Gray feel compelled to create this song and engage in Chinese human rights issues? Today’s program features our interview with Teacher Gray.
Lyrics to Leave It to Us, Peng Zaizhou
Written and Composed by: Teacher Gray
This era of helplessness, of no freedom, waits,
For you to stand up, to sacrifice for us.
Your courage was not wasted; we hold it close,
Because you have given us the drive to move forward.
Rest easy, Peng Zaizhou,
Leave it to us, Peng Zaizhou.
Your innocent descendants wait,
Together we’ll break their nightmare.
They’ve taken your freedom, your voice, but not your message,
And soon the world will sing it aloud.
Rest easy, Peng Zaizhou,
Leave it to us, Peng Zaizhou.
On that bridge, you made us proud,
You showed the world it’s possible
To topple a dictator.
For four or five years we’ve had little hope,
But now we see the road to freedom.
On that bridge, it wasn’t just you; we stood together,
With unyielding spirit, fearless strength.
Rest easy, Peng Zaizhou,
Leave it to us, Peng Zaizhou.
In recent years, Gray’s Chinese and English songs have faced censorship on Chinese internet and social media platforms. Many online users have expressed gratitude to him for raising his voice for the Chinese people.
Gray created Leave It to Us, Peng Zaizhou two years ago, recently releasing a new music video for it on YouTube. He also posted a video titled “Even I, a foreigner, am paying attention to Peng Zaizhou—how can you choose to look the other way?”
The Peng Zaizhou incident two years ago in Beijing involved a man using the alias “Peng Zaizhou” who raised protest banners on Sitong Bridge. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed messages on the banners, such as “We need food, not COVID tests; we need freedom, not lockdowns; we need dignity, not lies; we need reform, not the Cultural Revolution; we need votes, not leaders; we are citizens, not slaves.” The Chinese government and official media have not mentioned the incident, nor have they revealed Peng’s identity or disclosed his whereabouts.
On YouTube, which is blocked in China, viewers left comments in support of Gray, expressing gratitude for his voice as a “freedom fighter.” One comment, “from behind the wall,” signified appreciation from within China, where such messages of support carry significant personal risk.
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