Image: Thousands gathered at Liangma Bridge Road in Beijing to protest against Covid -restrictions in China.
On 27th November 2022, thousands gathered at the Liangma Bridge area in Beijing, holding blank white sheets of paper as a symbol of censorship and yelling “Freedom of speech” and “No dictatorships, we want democracy” against the communist party’s and China’s covid restrictions.
The protests were sparked by the incident in Xinjiang where 10 people died in a residential fire when they were “not allowed to go downstairs without permits” under China’s strict Covid measures.
Tang, a 38-year-old protester, joined the campaign in Beijing and told me about the night the protest occurred.
“I went to join the protest near Liangma River on the evening of 27th November and left at around 1 am the following morning. Everyone was enthusiastic and excited during the protest.”
“The police were very nice and polite; they did excellent jobs at maintaining public order and security. And I don’t think the protests will escalate any further.”
“We were not ‘being used’ by anyone who doesn’t like China, nor advocated by western media criticism about China’s Zero-Covid-Strategy.”
“People were yelling ‘Freedom of Press’ and ‘Freedom of the internet.’ Young people are supposed to be hot-blooded enough to be against any dictatorship. I felt I ought to be there to support those younger sisters and brothers.” Tang said.
In terms of the result of the protests, Tang declared, “I don’t have any expectations but am hoping everyone maintain enthusiastic about delivering their voice. Democracy was not built in a day, and a single spark can start a prairie fire.”
Illustriously, a young man screamed Shakespear’s “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee” during the protest. This loudest wave of protests since 1989 eventually brought victory. On Wednesday, 7th December, the Chinese government announced that testing requirements had been relaxed, and people affected with mild or no Covid symptoms were allowed to quarantine at home instead of being sent to cabin hospitals in China.
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