Seventeen years ago, peaceful Uyghur voices in Urumqi were met with bloodshed. Today, we gather to remember the innocent lives lost — and to make sure they are never forgotten.

On the afternoon of July 5, 2009, Uyghurs — many of them students — gathered peacefully at People’s Square in Urumqi to demand justice after Uyghur workers were killed in a factory attack in Shaoguan, thousands of miles away.

According to Uyghur witnesses, the demonstration was intended to be peaceful; some carried flags to signal they sought no confrontation. By nightfall, the streets had turned to tragedy. In the days and weeks that followed, countless young Uyghurs were detained in sweeping raids — many never seen again.

The true death toll remains disputed to this day. Chinese authorities reported 197 dead; Uyghur witnesses and rights groups believe the number was far higher. The fate of the disappeared is still unknown.

For the Uyghur people, July 5 is more than a date in a history book. It is a day to mourn those who were killed, to remember those who disappeared and were never returned to their families, and to insist that the truth not be buried.

Behind every number is a name. A son. A daughter. A father. A friend. Remembering is an act of resistance against forgetting.

Small actions create meaningful lasting change

Standing together for truth, dignity, cultural preservation, and human rights for Uyghurs around the world.

Voice of Uyghurs is a non-profit organization committed to amplifying Uyghur voices, preserving cultural identity, and promoting awareness of human rights issues.

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