Commemorating Rosa Luxemburg and socialist pioneers in Berlin

On January 12, from 9:40 AM to 2:30 PM, I (Chinese writer Wang Qingmin) participated in a leftist march in Berlin, Germany, commemorating Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, and other pioneers and martyrs of the German socialist revolution. The march proceeded from Frankfurter Tor to the Zentralfriedhof Friedrichsfelde cemetery.

During the nearly five-hour event, I displayed posters related to leftist revolutions in Germany and Russia, the 1968 global movements, China’s May Fourth Movement, the participation of Chinese youth in the War of Resistance against Japan, the 1989 Tiananmen Democracy Movement, and the 2018 Jasic workers’ struggle in Shenzhen, resonating with leftists in Germany and worldwide.

I also laid flowers at the cemetery where Rosa Luxemburg and others are buried.

The main poster I displayed featured, at the top, photographs of German socialists/feminists Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, and Clara Zetkin, along with Chinese Trotskyist leader Chen Duxiu, feminist pioneer Xiang Jingyu, and Marxist Li Dazhao.

The second row depicted the German November Revolution of 1918 and the Russian February Revolution (not October), highlighting their pursuit of democracy, peace, and socialism.

The third row illustrated China’s May Fourth Movement, emphasizing patriotism and the pursuit of democracy and science.

The fourth row commemorated Chinese youth participating in the War of Resistance against Japan, with the slogan “An inch of land, an inch of blood; 100,000 youth, 100,000 troops,” reflecting their anti-fascist efforts to defend national independence and ensure the people’s well-being.

The fifth row focused on the civil rights and student movements of the 1960s–70s around the world, known as the “1968 Movement,” advocating for equality, justice, and decolonization.

The sixth row commemorated the 1989 Tiananmen Democracy Movement in China, which sought democracy, freedom, and civil rights.

The seventh row highlighted the 2018 Jasic workers’ movement in Shenzhen, where workers and students united to fight for labor rights.

During the five-hour march, I stood on the side of the procession to display the posters to both participants and bystanders. After each section of the march passed, I would quickly run to the front of the next group (seven or eight groups in total, spanning one kilometer) and resume displaying the posters from the side, striving to ensure as many people as possible could see them.

In addition to the leftist poster, I also displayed posters commemorating Chinese laborers during World War II, condemning the remnants of Japanese fascism (as well as contrasting the vastly different approaches Germany and Japan take toward historical accountability), opposing the removal of “comfort women” statues, and calling for the release of Chinese political prisoners such as Xu Zhiyong.

Today, at least a thousand people saw my posters. I also distributed hundreds of related flyers and letters. Unfortunately, I had not printed enough, and two types of materials were quickly distributed completely.

I also displayed a poster honoring outstanding Chinese women, including female heroes like Qiu Jin, Lin Zhao, Wu Jianxiong, and others who made remarkable contributions to China. It also highlighted female victims, such as Chinese women workers, female farmers, and the “chained woman.”

These women deserve to be seen and understood by the world, and even more so, remembered and honored by the Chinese people.

During the march, I spoke with many participants, sharing my thoughts and demands. Some were Marxist-Leninists, some Maoists, and even some Stalinists. I told them that I consider myself a social democrat—a democratic socialist—with partial leanings toward Trotskyism.

However, I respect their viewpoints. Even for Maoists, Maoism and Mao Zedong himself are not the same thing. Mao Zedong betrayed Maoism. Of course, I am not a Maoist either.

In reality, more Chinese people should actively participate in events and express themselves. Regardless of political stance (obviously, positions that cross ethical lines, such as Nazism or Han chauvinistic racism, are outside the scope of discussion), Chinese people should actively voice their values and perspectives, ensuring that the world hears their voices and sees their presence.

During the march and while paying tribute at the cemetery, I also displayed posters commemorating the Chinese laborers who were forcibly conscripted, suffered, and died under Japanese occupation during World War II.

The suffering of Chinese laborers is also the suffering of the global working class. These forgotten Chinese laborers should be known and remembered by more people.

Among the march participants was a Palestinian contingent, including Palestinians living in Germany as well as supporters of the Palestinian liberation movement from Germany and other countries. One Palestinian freedom fighter, confined to a wheelchair, was still full of courage, shouting slogans loudly.

I also stepped forward and joined them in chanting “Free Palestine” to show my support and respect.

I sympathize with and understand both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it is clear that the Palestinian people are suffering more deeply and deserve greater empathy and support. Without justice, there can be no peace.

(I also designed new posters for the Socialist Movement and Civil Rights Struggle, adding content)