People took to the streets in several Chinese cities on Sunday to protest against the crown policy. The reason is a deadly fire in Ürümqi city. News agencies speak of an unprecedented wave of protests.
In Beijing, hundreds of people gathered in a university building. People are calling for an end to lockdowns. People also rallied against the crown policy in Shanghai and Wuhan. Similar images also come from Guangzhou, Xi’an and Chongqing.
The demonstrations began after a fire in Ürümqi, a city in Xinjiang province. Ten people died on Thursday. According to protesters, the victims were unable to escape. Due to the severe lockdown, the doors of the building would be locked and fences would be around the building. Some victims would not dare to leave their home immediately for fear of breaking the corona rules.
Ürümqi authorities deny that coronavirus measures have prevented people from leaving the building. They say residents could just go downstairs at the time of the fire.
Commemorations for the victims also escalated into protests on Saturday. In Shanghai, among others, people took to the streets. The footage shows a group of protesters chanting “Down with the Communist Party and down with President Xi Jinping.” According to witnesses, many people were arrested.
That protests are so open and widespread across the country is rare for China, where resistance is routinely censored. In Shanghai, protesters held up blank sheets of paper as a symbol of censorship.
