Photos: Boston stands with Ürümqi, hundreds gather for candlelight vigil honoring fire victims
December 7, 2022
Last Friday, hundreds of people gathered at the Boston Chinatown gate to honor the victims of the Ürümqi apartment fire, which left 10 dead after a delayed emergency response. At the event, there was a candlelight vigil honoring the victims with flowers and signs. After a moment of silence, and singing some songs, speakers spoke out against China’s current COVID-19 policies.
Flowers, candles, and signs honoring Ürümqi fire victims surround a sign that reads “Free Xinjiang Free China.”
A person kneels while lighting a candle for the candlelight vigil.
Hundreds gather around a speaker at the candlelight vigil.
A sign written in Chinese with English translation rest on a post under the Chinatown gate with a singular candle lit in front of it. The sign reads “S Ürümqi Rd. (M).”
Two people singing in a crowd of hundreds hold a page of song lyrics for the songs “Do You Hear The People Sing” and “Blowing In The Wind”.
A bundle of flowers and glowing candles sit in front of poster boards in Chinese with English translation. The poster boards give information about the rigid COVID-19 policies china currently has in place.
A person speaks into a microphone in front of hundreds of people.
A sign in Chinese with English translation being held up by a protester reads “Our demands of the Chinese Communist Party: 1. Allow public vigils 2. End Zero-COVID policy 3. Release activists 4. Protect the human rights of Chinese citizens.”
A crowd of protesters kneels during a moment of silence honoring the lives lost during the Ürümqi fire.
Two protesters hold up signs in Chinese in a crowd of hundreds of people.
A candlelight vigil of flowers, signs, and candles honoring the lives lost in the Ürümqi fire fills the sidewalk next to hundreds of protestors.
