People in Beijing Reacting to Tristan

Out here in Beijing, we've been following the horrifying developments of the IDF attack on Tristan and Palestinians in Ni’ilin, and all that has followed as reported on Indybay. Folks over here are quite familiar with state sponsored terrorism, and when they see images of the IDF, and their Caterpillar bulldozers, they get it--especially those old enough to rememebr the 1989 Tian'anmen massacre.

I wasn’t extremely well acquainted with Tristan, but I had spoken to him off and on at protests, since 2005. The last time I saw him at a protest, we were at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, where we blocked traffic in the entrance in solidarity with folks up there who've had enough of the pollution created by the outdated toxic facility.

When I saw the video of what happened in Ni’ilin, I showed the video to some Chinese friends of mine out here in Beijing, and they were shocked by this. When I explained (through an interpreter) what Tristan has done all his life fighting for human rights and environmental justice they understood and expressed extreme respect for this man.

I recently met a very kind, revolutionary minded guy who is a farmer from outside Beijing. His name is Ma Xiang Dong, and he is a very strong, chubby, cheerful, peaceful man who has no illusions about the plight of the working class around the world. He was silent for a moment when he saw the video of what happened to Tristan. My friend explained to him in Chinese the context of the imagery. Ma Xiang Dong then went to a blackboard in the living room (my friend is an English teacher), and he wrote a poem on the board in about three minutes in Chinese. My friend and I worked to translate it to English and here is the translation:

Bleeding for the Truth

In the world we always have heroes

Who bleed to save the working class with the blood of justice

This hero is willing to give his life to find the truth

Someday the working class will rise like a powerful sword

That will strike down the devils of U.S. Imperialism

By Ma Xiang Dong

I was moved by this man’s reaction to Tristan's existence from the other side of the world. This poor farmer doesn’t know Tristan. He’s just trying to survive, and hasn’t any real exposure to the political issues Tristan was confronting in Palestine, yet there was an instant recognition and respect for all that Tristan stands for. This is an instance of international solidarity that I feel Tristan and his friends would appreciate.

Wish I could be back in the Bay right now to stand with the community against the IDF, and the SFPD. Until I go back, I’ll be spreading the word in China to whoever will listen.

In Solidarity: Joe Tougas