Dr. Li Wenliang Memorial Bench

This unassuming wooden bench inside the Central Park West and 96th Street entrance serves as a rare, dedicated tribute to Doctor Li Wenliang. In late 2019, while working as an ophthalmologist at the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Li was among the first medical professionals to identify and sound the alarm regarding a mysterious, SARS-like virus. Despite his efforts to warn colleagues to protect themselves, he was detained by local authorities and forced to sign an official reprimand for spreading what officials termed rumors. The tragedy of his subsequent death from the very disease he had identified ignited a global conversation about the necessity of transparency and public accountability. The plaque on this bench is inscribed with the English words, In memorial of Dr. Li Wenliang who sounded the alarm on Covid-19, followed by the Chinese translation of his powerful final sentiment: A healthy society should not have only one voice. This memorial was made possible through the Central Park Conservancy's bench endowment program, following a request from an anonymous donor who wanted the space to serve as a site for public reflection and solidarity. It remains a poignant, quiet landmark for those who gather here to honor the risks he took to share the truth.