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Democracy Wall Movement Wikipedia

Democracy Wall was a wall in the Xidan District in Beijing. Beginning in December 1978, in line with the Chinese Communist Party's policy of "Seek truth from facts|seeking truth from facts," activists in the democracy movement recorded news and ideas, often in the form of Big-character posters, during a period known as Beijing Spring. These activists were encouraged to criticize the Gang of Four (China)|Gang of Four and previous (failed) government policies, but the wall was closed in December 1979 when the leadership and the Communist Party of China|communist party system were being criticized along with past mistakes and leaders. The shutdown coincided with suppression of political dissent.

The Fifth Modernization was a signed wall poster placed by Wei Jingsheng on December 5, 1978 on the Democracy Wall in Beijing. It was the first poster there that openly advocated further civil rights | individual liberties. It caused a spectacle, espousing that freedom was the only "modernization" that really mattered, rather than improved living standards. The poster was in response to the government's Four Modernizations campaign.

Last Modified:   2005-04-13