Lily Tang Williams Shares Her Freedom Journey With AOR - 2024 NRA Annual Meeting
June 8, 2024
Criminal defense attorneys Andrew Marcantel and Rachel Moss interview Lily Tang Williams at the NRA Conference in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Williams is an immigrant from Communist China and a survivor of the Cultural Revolution. She shares her perspective on the ongoing debate over constitutional rights in America regarding the Second Amendment.
Ms. Williams Journey
Ms. Williams was born in Chengdu, China, and came of age during Chairman Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. As a child, she chanted phrases like “10,000 years” to Chairman Mao, never questioning the immortality of his dictatorship until his death changed her worldview.
“When he died, it’s like, who lied to me and who lied to my entire generation? I was a lost child?”
- Lily Tang Williams
Ms. Williams explains that her early political education came from fear rather than freedom. Religion was demonized, family loyalty was supplanted by party loyalty, and children were encouraged to report their own parents to the government. Years later, while teaching law in Shanghai, Lily realized that her dream of establishing a rule-of-law society in China was impossible under the Chinese Communist one-party dictatorship. After overcoming years of obstacles, she arrived in the United States in 1988 with only $100 and limited English skills.
“You don’t own yourself in China you need to get a permission to quit your job and to go apply for private passport.”
- Lily Tang Williams
Rule of Law Versus Rule by Men
Ms. William’s background in law makes her aware of the difference between constitutional governance and authoritarian rule. In the U.S., government powers are limited by the Constitution, especially through the Bill of Rights. However, in Communist China, the law is subordinate to party doctrine. Legal decisions often serve political aims, and individual rights are frequently denied when they conflict with the interests of the state.
“Every law school, every department, has Communist Party Committee on site besides your academics, to supervise you.”
- Lily Tang Williams
A Question That Ended the Debate
Ms. Williams explains that while she was at a gun control debate hosted by Dartmouth College, she asked David Hogg a question. She inquired whether there was a guarantee that the U.S. government would never become tyrannical. Mr. Hogg responded, saying he could not guarantee that. In that moment, Ms. Williams decided the gun control debate was over. She emphasizes that the Second Amendment was meant to protect the people’s right to defend themselves from government tyranny.
“Then the gun control debate is over. I will never give up my guns.”
- Lily Tang Williams
Ms. Williams reminds Americans of what happens when governments monopolize power and disarm the public. The Chinese Communist Party governs 1.4 billion people with only 90 million members. This demonstrates that a small minority controls through censorship, surveillance, and fear.
The Importance of Civic Vigilance
Ms. Williams warns that America faces a concerning future. She highlights government censorship, collusion between federal agencies and big tech, pandemic overreach, and ideological indoctrination in public schools as warning signs.
“This is not the same America I came here for.”
- Lily Tang Williams
Ms. Williams now advocates for reducing federal power, implementing term limits, decentralizing education, and promoting fiscal responsibility. As a candidate for Congress in New Hampshire’s 2nd District, her platform supports limited government, individual liberty, and constitutional integrity.
“I was once a slave before… I will never be one again.”
- Lily Tang Williams
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