The "Great Cultural Revolution", which was started in China by the paramount Chinese leader Mao Zedong on May 17, 1966, and ended in 1976, destroyed almost all the Chinese ancient cultures and relics since some 2000 years ago.
Tens of millions of Chinese people died as a result of this unprecedented campaign, and hundreds of millions of Chinese people were persecuted. The intellectuals were sent to the countryside to be reeducated by the peasants. Millions of Chinese government officials were either killed or sent to labor camps, including the father of the current Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Members of "Chinese Coalition for Citizens Rights", including Shen Xuehua, Piao Ri, Shen Zhenan, and Li Xianghua attended the meeting.
