Proposed Bill Aims to Honor Tiananmen Square Victims
Recently, it came to light that Rep. Andy Ogles from Tennessee and Senator Rick Scott from Florida are set to introduce legislation intended to rename the street in front of the Chinese embassy as a tribute to Tiananmen Square.
The proposed legislation, called the Tiananmen Commemoration Act of 2026, seeks to officially change “the area along International Place Northwest between 3501 International Drive Northwest and 3507 International Place Northwest in Washington, District of Columbia” to “Tiananmen Square Memorial Boulevard.” This announcement coincides with the 37th anniversary of the tragic massacre.
According to the bill, any legal references to the aforementioned area would be interpreted as references to Tiananmen Square. It further states:
The General Services Administrator shall: (1) create road signs featuring the phrase “Tiananmen Square Memorial Boulevard”; (2) design these signs to resemble those identifying subway stations in the District of Columbia; (3) (A) position them on the closest federal land to the newly named boulevard; (B) specifically at the intersections of International Drive Northwest and Van Ness Street Northwest, as well as International Drive Northwest and International Place Northwest in Washington, D.C.
Senator Scott remarked in a statement, “Thirty-seven years ago, the world witnessed the true atrocities of the Chinese Communist Party when countless peaceful demonstrators were murdered in cold blood for opposing the communist regime.” He emphasized that the CCP has not shown any remorse for this horrific event and continues to perpetrate significant human rights abuses.
Scott further asserted that the bill pays tribute to the “brave victims of the Tiananmen massacre” while condemning the “heinous human rights violations” committed by the Chinese Communist Party.
In a separate statement, Ogles described China as being “governed by an immoral and genocidal communist regime.”
He noted, “Tomorrow marks 37 years since the Tiananmen massacre, when the Chinese government attacked its own people, mowing down protesters in the streets and killing thousands of innocent lives.” Ogles expressed his commitment to condemning ongoing human rights violations and honoring the victims of the 1989 massacre. “I am proud to work with Senator Rick Scott to rename the street in front of the Chinese embassy,” he added, insisting, “The Chinese Communist Party may try to erase history, but we will not forget.”
