WASHINGTON (AP) — About 200 protesters lit candles and shouted “Free China!” two blocks from the White House on Sunday in a show of support for demonstrations in China calling for an end to severe anti-virus controls and for political change.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza held up signs saying, “No Dictatorship, No Censorship,” demanding that President Xi Jinping and the ruling Communist Party give up power. They held up blank sheets of paper, a symbol of opposition to the party’s pervasive censorship. Some yelled, “Free China!”
The protests erupted Nov. 25 after at least 10 people died in a fire in Urumqi, a city in China’s northwest. Authorities rejected suggestions firefighters or people trying to escape might have been blocked by anti-virus controls. But the disaster became a focus for public frustration with curbs that confine millions of people to their homes.
“I did not care much about these public issues before as it did not happen to me,” said a Chinese student who would give only her surname, Liu, due to fear of retaliation.“The COVID policy is really improper,” said Liu. “Now that I am in a country with free speech, I shall do my best when my rights can be protected.”
Uighurs, Tibetans and members of other ethnic minorities that are targeted for surveillance and control by the Communist Party joined the protests.“How can we not stand up after they did?” he said. “I shall at least let them know they were not alone.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Protesters in Wuhan, China seen pushing through barrier as US senators warn against violent crackdownProtests have erupted in Wuhan over oppressive COVID policies in rare show of defiance prompting the U.S. Senate to warn Beijing against violent crackdown.
Read more »
Antony Blinken says Biden administration supports zero-Covid protesters in China | CNN PoliticsSecretary of State Tony Blinken said Sunday that the Biden administration supports the zero-COVID protesters in China, explaining that he will address the topic when he visits the country early next year.
Read more »
Biden's 2024 primary calendar gives Kamala Harris an edge in a future White House bidPresident Biden's push to make South Carolina the first major battleground in Democratic presidential primaries has a second big beneficiary: VP Harris.
Read more »
White House rebukes Trump’s suggestion to suspend Constitution over 2020 electionThe White House issued a stern rebuke on Saturday after former president Donald Trump suggested suspending the Constitution in his ongoing crusade to discredit the results of the 2020 election.
Read more »
White House responds to Trump demanding to terminate parts of the Constitution after ‘Twitter files’ releasePresident Biden's White House condemned former President Trump for calling for the termination of parts of the U.S. Constitution this week. Trump faced attacks from all sides.
Read more »
Biden congratulates Kennedy Center honorees at White House | CNN PoliticsPresident Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden congratulated the class of the 45th Kennedy Center Honors Sunday evening, welcoming them to the White House ahead of the star-studded event celebrating the American arts.
Read more »