2025年7月13日為劉曉波逝世八周年，多倫多支聯會共同主席關卓中專程到訪渥太華，在這張空座椅前獻上一束白花，以表達對劉曉波的哀思與敬意。
July 13, 2025 is the eighth anniversary of Liu Xiaobo’s passing. Cheuk Kwan, co-chair of the Toronto Association of Democracy in China (TADC), made a visit to Ottawa to lay a bouquet of white flowers in front of the Empty Chair Memorial to express our grief and respect for Liu Xiaobo.
在加拿大國際特赦（Amnesty International）位於渥太華的總部門前，永久擺放著一張象徵劉曉波的空座椅 — 那是他在2010年無法出席領取諾貝爾和平獎而留空的座椅 — 也代表著中國良心犯與言論自由被壓制的座椅。
2025年7月13日為劉曉波逝世八周年，多倫多支聯會共同主席關卓中專程到訪渥太華，在這張空座椅前獻上一束白花，以表達對劉曉波的哀思與敬意。關卓中說：「獻花行動凝聚的不只是對一位中國異見者的紀念，更表示世人沒有忘記劉曉波、沒有忘記所有因追求自由與公義而被噤聲、被監禁、甚至被犧牲的人。」
一直在海外致力推動中國人權的前八九學運領袖周鋒鎖，於6月2日前往渥太華時，亦特意來到這空座椅前憑弔追思。
周鋒鎖直言：「在加拿大首都親眼見到這張象徵劉曉波的空椅子時，內心非常感動，也深感欣慰。我深知，從籌備到落成，這樣一座紀念碑背後所付出的努力，是非常不容易的。」
他感慨地憶及劉曉波的遺孀劉霞之言：「曉波在中國被遺忘，沒想到在海外也被遺忘。」他認為，這個被淡化遺忘的背後是中共勢力有意操控所致。周鋒鎖作為《中國人權》的執行主任，他過去曾多次嘗試在美國多間大學推動設立劉曉波雕像或紀念碑，屢屢遭遇無形勢力的阻撓和施壓，無一成功。以耶魯大學為例，當時籌備工作已接近完成，但最終卻莫名其妙地被迫告吹。
周鋒鎖前來多倫多參與今年6月1日六四燭光晚會的行程中，也到訪多倫多大學的六四紀念碑，更知悉在約克大學有一座民主女神像紀念碑。「我對多倫多支聯會所投放的心力，及對中國民運的認同感和堅持不懈，實在深受感動和鼓勵。在參加了多倫多六四燭光晚會後，我認為加拿大三大城市的集會已成為繼香港之後全世界最重要的六四紀念活動。尤其民間方面的動員和推廣，都是在美國和歐、亞各個城市所看不到的！」
In front of Amnesty International Canada’s headquarters in Ottawa stands a permanent Empty Chair Memorial. This Chair symbolizes the 2010 Noble Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo, whose chair on the stage was left empty in the award ceremony. This chair also represents Chinese prisoners of conscience and all those whose freedom of speech have been suppressed.
July 13, 2025 is the eighth anniversary of Liu Xiaobo’s passing. Cheuk Kwan, co-chair of the Toronto Association of Democracy in China (TADC), made a visit to Ottawa to lay a bouquet of white flowers in front of the Empty Chair Memorial to express our grief and respect for Liu Xiaobo. “The simple act of laying flowers not only is a commemoration of Liu, but also shows that the world has not forgotten this Chinese dissident and all those who have been silenced, imprisoned, or even sacrificed for their pursuit of freedom and justice,” said Kwan.
Zhou Fengsuo, a former leader of the 1989 student movement who has been committed to promoting human rights in China overseas, also paid his tribute at the Empty Chair when he was in Ottawa on June 2.
Zhou said, “frankly I was moved when seeing this Empty Chair symbolizing Liu in the capital of Canada. I share that bringing about this monument from preparation to completion is not at all easy.”
The Chair also reminded Zhou the words from Liu’s widow Liu Xia, “Xiaobo has been forgotten in China, and I didn’t expect him to be forgotten outside China as well.” He believes the reason behind this downplaying and forgetting is the long arm of the Chinese Communist Party. Zhou, being the Executive Director of Human Rights in China, had tried in the past to establish a statue or a memorial of Liu in many universities in the US without success, each time with repeated obstruction and pressure from all sides. At Yale University for example, months of negotiating for a statue was called off at the finishing line for no obvious reason.
When Zhou was in Toronto to participate in the Tiananmen Candlelight Vigil on June 1 this year, he also visited the June 4th Tiananmen Memorial at the University of Toronto and learned of a replica of the Goddess of Democracy at York University. “I am encouraged by the effort of the TADC over the years, and their dedication supporting democracy movement in China. After attending the candlelight vigil in Toronto, I believe that the gatherings in Canada’s three major cities have become the most important June 4th commemoration events in the world after Hong Kong. In particular, the level of grassroot participation is something I have not seen in cities in the United States, Europe, and Asia!”