【新唐人2011年3月21日讯】南京市近千名市民响应网上呼吁，19号到南京图书馆参与“保护梧桐树”集会，用和平与微笑，抗议政府为修地铁大肆砍伐有历史意义的法国梧桐树。下午约4点，集会结束，至少五人被带上警车拉走。而南京市政府将集会定性为所谓“境外敌对势力”所为，禁止当地媒体报导。
据目击者网上描述，南京图书馆前广场及周边街道，19号早晨就有大批公安出现，气氛紧张。但下午3点，大批市民仍当着公安面，坦然走到图书馆广场，在石阶上坐下。他们多是年轻人，没佩带任何标识，不打旗帜横额，也不喊口号，彼此心照不宣，会意“微笑”。
不多久阶梯上已坐满了人，公安封锁广场，让进不让出，大批后到者被堵，不能进入。
香港《苹果日报》报导说，现场有人拿出相机拍摄，遭公安扑上抢相机，但被市民阻挡；一名学生模样的女子因手上系着绿丝带，被几个公安围住，要她把绿丝带扯下，双方一度推撞，有人高喊“警察打人”，惹来民愤。
有消息说，这名女子最后被警方带走，另外还有4名市民因在手臂扎上绿丝带而被带走。
现场最多人时超过上千人。公安最后强行驱散“集会”，将集会者赶下台阶，赶离广场，期间有人被推倒在地，有人被抢走相机。
一段名为《梧心悲桐》的视频，被上传到优酷网上。有人看完这段视频后这样留言：“看哭了。六朝古都的氛围被一棵棵法桐衬托着、保护着，可是现在……我不明白，那所谓的政绩真的那么重要吗？如果这样下去，多年后的南京还是我曾爱上的那个南京吗？”
有市民表示，“政府砍掉的是树，毁掉的是文明，伤害的是南京市民的心。”
“法国梧桐树”在上个世纪二、三十年代引入南京市，被南京市民视为“城市灵魂”，不但是南京的标志，见证了南京历史变迁，更表征着对孙中山先生的怀念。南京当局因修地铁对市内的法国梧桐树进行“大屠杀”，和以往靓丽风景线形成鲜明对比的是，现在道路的两侧已变成了光秃秃的一片。
台湾国民党“立委”邱毅也跨海护树，他希望透过海协会和海基会，协调南京政府砍梧桐树这件事。他说“我要保护的不只是梧桐，更是想唤起同属中华民族的两岸同胞，对共同历史、文化、记忆的尊重态度。”
同时，黄健翔、孟非、陆川等多位大陆知名人士也通过微博发动“拯救南京梧桐树”的活动。各路声音经由微博的聚集与发酵后，南京市民发起了这场“捍卫梧桐树”的静坐示威集会。
新唐人记者王子琦、黄容综合报导。
Protecting the Buttonwood Trees
Nearly 1000 people joined an online call for a rally
“Protecting Buttonwood Trees” at the Nanjing
library on March 19, protesting the massive cutting
of the historical French buttonwood trees
for subway development. The rally was over
at around 4:00 pm, with at least 5 people arrested..
The Nanjing government labeled the assembly as
being organized by ”Overseas Hostile Forces”,
and forbade any local media to report this incident.
Witnesses described online that a lot of police
showed up around the Nanjing library and streets
early on March 19, creating tense atmosphere.
Around 3:00 pm, many people walked to the square
of the library and sat down on the stone steps.
Most of them were young people, without signs,
banners, or slogans, but only a smile.
They knew exactly what they were coming here for.
Before long, the steps were full of people.
Police sealed off the square,
allowing only traffic to come in but not go out.
Many late comers were denied entrance.
Apple Daily reported that police tried in vain
to confiscate cameras from people taking photos.
A young lady with a green ribbon around her arm
was surrounded by police and asked to take it off.
Both parties engaged in a physical altercation,
when somebody shouted ‘police are beating people.’
The police’s behavior irritated many people onsite.
It was said the young lady and 4 other civilians
who wore green ribbons, were taken by the police.
Over 1000 people joined the rally.
The police forcefully dispersed the crowd,
driving them off the steps and away from the square.
Some were pushed to the ground,
while others’ cameras were taken away by police.
A video on this incident was circulated online.
Netizens wrote: “I cried after watching it.
This capital city of 6 ancient dynasties is
harmonized and protected by the Buttonwood trees.
But now I don’t understand, is it really that important
for the officials to show off their achievements
by cutting these historical trees?
If things go on like this, will Nanjing still be
the one I loved several years ago?”
Some residents said:
“What the government destroys is not just the trees,
but civilization, which will hurt
the feelings of the Nanjing people.”
The French buttonwood trees were introduced
to Nanjing in the 1920s and were regarded
by the local people as the “Soul of the City.”
It is not only symbolic of Nanjing and its history,
but also a commemoration of Mr. Sun Yat-sen.
After the government’s “massacre” of the trees
due to subway development, there is no shade
seen along the roads now, compared to
the scenes of florishing buttonwood trees before.
Taiwan KMT legislator, Chou Yi, also wanted
to protect the trees. He urged the ARATS,
and SEF intervened with Nanjing authority
on the tree-cutting issue. He said:
“What I want to protect is not only
the buttonwood trees, but more the common
history, culture and memory
of the Chinese people across the Taiwan strait.”
Meanwhile, some well-known figures in China
such as Huang Jianxiang, Meng Fei,
and Lu Chuan also supported the efforts
of “Rescuing Nanjing Buttonwood Trees”
via their microblogs.
With the continued advocacy and support
from various groups and individuals,
Nanjing citizens launched the foregoing silent
rally of “Protecting the Buttonwood Trees.”
NTD reporter Wang Ziqi and Huang Rong.
