Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced legislation on Tuesday to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. that would honor victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and political persecution attributed to the Chinese Communist Party.
The bill, titled the Honoring the Victims of Communist China’s Tyranny Act, directs the State Department to create the memorial in International Park, directly across from the Chinese embassy. It requires the memorial to convey a message of solidarity with the Chinese people and a hope for future liberty.
The proposed site would commemorate a range of historical atrocities, from the mass deaths during Mao Zedong’s rule and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown to the ongoing genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang recognized by the United States.
Funding for the project would be limited to $500,000 from federal appropriations, with the remainder to be raised through private donations. The legislation specifies that taxpayer contributions be capped to ensure fiscal responsibility.
In a statement, Senator Scott emphasized that the victims “deserve the God‑given liberty and unalienable rights America’s founders fought for.” He described the Chinese government’s record as encompassing forced labor, torture, sterilizations, and organ harvesting.
Senator Blackburn echoed the call to remember the victims, noting that the memorial would serve as a permanent reminder of the “worst human rights abuses imaginable.” She said the initiative would allocate existing funds and private contributions to ensure the memorial’s construction.
The memorial’s design would include exhibits documenting the Uyghur genocide, the suppression of Tibetan and Southern Mongolian culture, religion, history, and language, and other documented abuses. It is intended to educate visitors about the human cost of the CCP’s policies.
The legislation also references the case of Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai, who is serving a lengthy prison term under the national security law, as an illustration of the risks faced by individuals who speak out against the Chinese government.
