A protest banner appeared on an overpass In Xinhua County, Hunan province, China on Tuesday calling for freedom and democracy. The banner hung over a bridge called for freedom and democracy, criticizing Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator” and an “authoritarian.” The message, translated by British-Chinese journalist Cindi Yu, read: “freedom, democracy, elections, protest school, protest work, protest authoritarian traitor Xi Jinping”.
This act of dissent is unusual in China, where free speech and criticism are heavily suppressed. Protests are often met with a strong response from authorities. Observers say that the emergence of this banner reflects a growing discontent with the CPC’s strict control over public expression, particularly since the implementation of the ‘Zero Covid’ policy. This policy has led to sporadic demonstrations against Xi and the CPC’s governance.
In recent years, there have been several instances of public unrest in China. In October 2022, two banners appeared hung over a busy overpass in the capital Beijing One reads: “Go on strike. Remove dictator and national traitor Xi Jinping.” The other read “Say no to covid test, yes to food. No to lockdown, yes to freedom…Don’t be a slave, be a citizen.”
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