Philadelphia Raises CCP Flag Amid Controversy
On Tuesday, the flag of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was raised at Philadelphia’s city hall. This ceremony was held in honor of the CCP’s national day, which takes place on October 1st. Interestingly, some of the co-organizers of this event have connections to the Beijing government. Reports indicate that the ceremony overlooked, or perhaps downplayed, the dark history associated with the CCP, particularly since Mao Zedong’s rise to power in 1949, which was marked by violence, persecution, and destruction of culture.
Outside the city hall, protesters from the Tibetan Association of Philadelphia voiced their opposition, urging that the city remove the flag. Julme, the president of the association, expressed strong sentiments, stating, “The red flag of the Chinese Communist Party is not a symbol of culture. It is a symbol of a brutal and totalitarian regime. This administration bears responsibility for the persecution and murder of millions, the destruction of countless monasteries, and the ongoing cultural genocide against my people in Tibet and the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Raising this flag in Philadelphia is a betrayal of those seeking freedom.”
The Uyghur community also condemned the event through a letter sent to Mayor Cherelle Parker. Rushan Abbas, who has a sister imprisoned in China, shared that the flag embodies systemic surveillance, forced sterilization, and the suppression of dissent throughout China.
Elected officials at both state and federal levels criticized the decision to hold this event. Pennsylvania Republican Senator Doug Mastriano labeled it a “terrifying mistake,” citing the CCP’s history of oppression and millions of deaths during the Cultural Revolution. On social media, Mastriano remarked, “The cradle of freedom flying the flag of tyranny.”
Additionally, Republican Representative John Mourenard from Michigan urged the mayor to reconsider this gesture, calling it disrespectful to the values enshrined in the Constitution.
This isn’t the first time Philadelphia has raised a flag like this; a similar event occurred in 2019. Other liberal cities, such as San Francisco and New York, have also hosted similar ceremonies.
A recent survey revealed that the CCP’s influence extends beyond symbolic gestures, with party members seen enrolling in US universities and establishing overseas party branches supported by Chinese organizations. These branches, not officially recognized as student groups, have appeared at institutions like the University of Oklahoma, University of Nebraska, and University of Colorado, with members reaching other universities as well.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump stated in August that allowing 600,000 Chinese students to study in the US would benefit American universities financially, potentially bringing in “hundreds of millions of dollars.” However, this idea has faced pushback from some Republicans, including Representative Eli Crane from Arizona, who deemed it a significant national security concern.
