Blackburn backs bill renaming street for COVID-19 whistleblower

NASHVILLE — U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and several fellow Senate and House Republicans have introduced legislation to rename a street outside the Chinese embassy in Washington after Li Wenliang, a Wuhanbased doctor silenced by authorities for his public warnings about the new coronavirus’ dangers before Chinese health authorities acknowledged the threat.

“Dr. Li took a great personal risk to tell the world about COVID-19 despite the looming threats of, and subsequent forced censorship by, the Chinese Communist Party,” the Brentwood senator said in a statement issued Thursday. “Even when he contracted the virus, Dr. Li continued his efforts to communicate his experience and what he knew about it. Dr. Li is a hero.”

An opthalmologist, Li contracted COVID-19 and died from it in February. The legislation names the street outside China’s embassy “Li Wenliang Way.”

“In naming this street in his honor, we will show the Chinese government and the world that truth prevails and free speech is paramount to who we are as a nation,” said Blackburn, who along with fellow Republicans has aggressively criticized China’s leaders on their response to the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the U.S. and much of the globe. “The American people are grateful for his sacrifice.”

Fellow GOP Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Marco Rubio of Florida are also sponsoring the measure. U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, is the House sponsor.

“The Chinese Communist Party wants the world to forget the name Li Wenliang,” Cotton stated in Blackburn’s news release. “CCP officials forced the Wuhan-based doctor to retract his early warnings about coronavirus, and government censors scrubbed Chinese social media of his name after his death.

“We’ll ensure the name Li Wenliang is never forgotten — by placing it permanently outside the embassy of the nation responsible for the deaths Dr. Li tried to prevent,” Cotton added.