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China’s Protest Prophet – The New York Times


When a man hung two protest banners over a highway crossing in central Beijing in mid-October, it was clear that he had performed a shocking act of bravery in China by Xi Jinping. But most hope it will be forgotten once the censors wash internet in China for any apparent mention of his actions.

Less than two months later, however, his slogans had become a rallying cry in cities and schools across China and the world as the Chinese public protest the government’s harsh Covid restrictions and disenfranchise them.

“We want food, not Covid tests,” chanted protesters, reciting the banners’ slogans. “We want reform, not the Cultural Revolution. We want freedom, not lockdown. We want votes, not a ruler. We want dignity, not lies. We are citizens, not slaves.” In Shanghai, some even shouted out the most radical demands of the banners: “Get rid of the autocratic traitor Xi Jinping!”

Now, the man who hung the banners, Peng Lifa, is known as the “lighter in the dark”, the “lone warrior” and the “Bridge Man”, a reference to the “Man of the Cross”. tanks” stands in front of a line of tanks in 1989 during Beijing’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square. Peng is considered by many to have inspired many to take part in the recent protests, the largest demonstration in China since.

We know very little about Peng. Authorities removed him from the bridge and detained him, and his whereabouts are still unknown. The Chinese government never acknowledged him. He simply disappeared from public view.

“He is a prophet-like figure,” said Pu Zhiqiang, a Beijing-based human rights lawyer who was disqualified from performing public service because of his own advocacy.

“Lone warrior,” wrote a Twitter account named @zengamy to Peng, “no matter where you are, please watch this: your voice has spread across our country, our China. .”

Today, I will explain how with a simple but courageous act, Peng shaped the biggest protests in China in a generation.

In video and images of the banners being hung, a person wearing an orange shirt and yellow hard hat is seen tying them to the bridge while a plume of smoke rises nearby, possibly an attempt to attract the attention of pedestrians and motorists passing through busy intersections. A megaphone repeated slogans calling on the masses to fight for food, freedom, the right to vote, and get rid of Xi.

In two Twitter accounts believed to be owned by Peng, he claims to be an enthusiast of physics and philosophy. Based on his business registration information, he appears to be a shareholder of a small Beijing technology company. In a 23-page manifesto he posted on an academic website hours before the action, he wrote that China must be free and democratic. He urged the Chinese public to try to prevent Xi from securing a rule-breaking third term as China’s top leader, which Xi did a few days later at a staged party congress. elaborately built.

Peng is believed to be 48 years old and born in Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia to the north.

The world knows very little about what will happen to him. Critics of Xi Jinping have been severely punished. Nham Chi Cuong, a retired real estate mogul, wrote an essay criticizing the Chinese government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020. He called Xi a “clown”. Now Ren is serving an 18-year sentence. From Chi Dung, a prominent activist, wrote an open letter in 2020 calling for Mr. Xi to step down. He was arrested, then tried secretly for subversion in June. The court’s verdict is still unknown.

Peng took it a step further by organizing a political protest on the street, an extremely rare and risky act in China.

Many of the protesters I interviewed said that Peng inspired them. “He showed us that you can say these things even in China,” said Xia, a university graduate, of her political slogans. She was detained for 24 hours after participating in a protest in Shanghai in late November. She only wanted to be identified by her last name because of safety concerns.

Chinese democracy activists run Instagram accounts Citizens Daily CN said they took the risk to organize protests around the world because they wanted to continue what Peng started.

The group’s representative said his demands cover many issues: daily needs, opposition to the “zero Covid” policy and opposition to dictatorship. “They quickly became a consensus among Chinese dissidents and protesters.”

Related: China announced today it will ease the restrictions of Covida victory for the protesters.

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