【新唐人2011年3月21日訊】南京市近千名市民響應網上呼籲，19號到南京圖書館參與「保護梧桐樹」集會，用和平與微笑，抗議政府為修地鐵大肆砍伐有歷史意義的法國梧桐樹。下午約4點，集會結束，至少五人被帶上警車拉走。而南京市政府將集會定性為所謂“境外敵對勢力”所為，禁止當地媒體報導。
據目擊者網上描述，南京圖書館前廣場及周邊街道，19號早晨就有大批公安出現，氣氛緊張。但下午3點，大批市民仍當著公安面，坦然走到圖書館廣場，在石階上坐下。他們多是年輕人，沒佩帶任何標識，不打旗幟橫額，也不喊口號，彼此心照不宣，會意「微笑」。
不多久階梯上已坐滿了人，公安封鎖廣場，讓進不讓出，大批後到者被堵，不能進入。
香港《蘋果日報》報導說，現場有人拿出相機拍攝，遭公安撲上搶相機，但被市民阻擋；一名學生模樣的女子因手上繫著綠絲帶，被幾個公安圍住，要她把綠絲帶扯下，雙方一度推撞，有人高喊“警察打人”，惹來民憤。
有消息說，這名女子最後被警方帶走，另外還有4名市民因在手臂紮上綠絲帶而被帶走。
現場最多人時超過上千人。公安最後強行驅散「集會」，將集會者趕下臺階，趕離廣場，期間有人被推倒在地，有人被搶走相機。
一段名為《梧心悲桐》的視頻，被上傳到優酷網上。有人看完這段視頻後這樣留言：“看哭了。六朝古都的氛圍被一棵棵法桐襯託著、保護著，可是現在……我不明白，那所謂的政績真的那麼重要嗎？如果這樣下去，多年後的南京還是我曾愛上的那個南京嗎？”
有市民表示，“政府砍掉的是樹，毀掉的是文明，傷害的是南京市民的心。”
「法國梧桐樹」在上個世紀二、三十年代引入南京市，被南京市民視為“城市靈魂”，不但是南京的標誌，見證了南京歷史變遷，更表徵著對孫中山先生的懷念。南京當局因修地鐵對市內的法國梧桐樹進行“大屠殺”，和以往靚麗風景線形成鮮明對比的是，現在道路的兩側已變成了光禿禿的一片。
台灣國民黨“立委”邱毅也跨海護樹，他希望透過海協會和海基會，協調南京政府砍梧桐樹這件事。他說“我要保護的不只是梧桐，更是想喚起同屬中華民族的兩岸同胞，對共同歷史、文化、記憶的尊重態度。”
同時，黃健翔、孟非、陸川等多位大陸知名人士也通過微博發動“拯救南京梧桐樹”的活動。各路聲音經由微博的聚集與發酵後，南京市民發起了這場“捍衞梧桐樹”的靜坐示威集會。
新唐人記者王子琦、黃容綜合報導。
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.
