Miss World Pageant Silences Beauty Queen, Critic of China, at U.S. Contest

Beauty queen contestant Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin is being silenced by the Miss World competition over her critique of China's human rights abuses. Many of the Miss World corporate sponsors are Chinese companies who have pressured the competition from allowing Miss Lin to even speak on human rights - her official platform.

The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Hollywood Reporter have reported that there is Chinese pressure to not have the pageant event become embroiled in Lin's activism.

Marion Smith, executive director of The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, whose organization has partnered with Miss Lin for her new film, The Bleeding Edge, says: “The Bleeding Edge stands as an example of the kind of honest critique of the communist system we need in the popular conscience. The repression and torture of China’s prisoners of conscience is simply appalling, and China has tried desperately to hide this reality. Tibetans, Uyghurs, house Christians, members of Falun Gong, and human rights activists have shown remarkable courage in the face of communist intimidation; it is time we start to recognize what that courage costs.”

Despite Miss Lin being able to speak on this subject, The Bleeding Edge premieres tonight.

What: US Film Premiere:The Bleeding Edge and Q&A with Director Leon Lee

Where: The Landmark Theater E Street, 555 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

When: December 14, 2016 from 6:30PM to 9:00PM

Registration: Visit VOC’s Eventbrite page to register.