On the evening of January 29, many television stations around the world aired the news of Zhao’s memorial service at Babaoshan Public Cemetary. Common people did not have a ticket to attend the service, and many cried out loud while standing in the streets.

One elderly woman, wearing a strip of white cloth on her head, was too sad to even stand straight. Another middle-aged man was holding a picture of Zhao Ziyang while a plainclothes police was behind him and pushing him.

The Epoch Times called the “appellants village” in Beijing, where many people from the countryside who have come to Beijing to appeal to the central government congregate, and one of the appellant told the reporter their experience:

An elderly man holds a white flower of mourning, while a plainclothes police watches on. (Epoch Times)

“Lately our entire village is locked. The authorities recently built a little shack, calling it a ‘safety management station.’ It is on our way in and out of the village. This morning, to avoid being caught, we got up before 4 a.m., and walked north out of the village while it was still dark. Then we took a subway. A few others took bus routes 14 and 20, but they were caught halfway by plainclothes police. All we wanted to do is to walk with him one more time, to look at him one more time, this elderly man that we respect and admire.”

A shack was built near the “appellants village” to monitor their activities. (Epoch Times)

“We arrived at Babaoshan subway station at 7 a.m. By then, there were a lot of people there. We watched cars after cars driving into Babaoshan, and felt increasingly anxious. The air was quite depressing. A lot of people stood alongside the streets. Nobody was talking or crying. Many foreigners were also there with video cameras. Plainclothes police was everywhere, watching us closely.”

“We took out the white paper flower and wore white cloth strips on our heads to show mourning. The police immediately came to stop us. We told them that we came here to say goodbye to Zhao Ziyang. We don’t care about anything else today, and nobody could stop us. We weren’t allowed to cry, and the government even restricts us on what we wear. Is there any freedom left for the people? The police was silent.”

The appellants express their condolence in their own ways. (Epoch Times)

“We told the police that we understand that they need to make a living, too. Their family is waiting for them to bring home their salary, and their job is not easy. But we were in Beijing also to fight for our right of survival. At least these policemen have a home. We peasants have nothing left, our family is all broken. We didn’t come here for ourselves. Ziyang was wronged for 16 years, and he did it for the people. I just wanted to speak the truth. The police then walked away.”

“A few of us started crying. We lifted up a big white banner that read, ‘Ziyang’s Spirit Will Live For Ever; Those Who Are Corrupt Will Surely Die,” while shouting out, ‘We miss Ziyang,.’ ‘If you need food, go find Ziyang.’ We were very emotional, and our slogans were quite loud. A few of us started bawling. All cameras and video cameras turned to us. Many of the spectators also started crying.”

Four Western reporters then interviewed this person. It was translated and broadcast live. The person told The Epoch Times