HONG KONG — Thousands of posters denouncing China’s supreme leader have been displayed at universities in New York, Barcelona, Stockholm, Tokyo and elsewhere in the past few days as Chinese students and dissidents spread the message of a lone protester in China. appeared on the campus of
The paper posters plastered on almost everything have one common theme.
The term first appeared in Beijing on October 13. China’s supreme leader, Mr. Xi, was expected to enter a third term during the Communist Party Congress, so someone whose identity has not been confirmed managed to hold up the banner in a hurry. A bridge to demand the dismissal of Mr. Xi. On Sunday, that third term was confirmed.
The banner’s protest slogans also included “elections, not dictatorships” and “citizens, not grumpy.”
The appearance of such strong opposition in a heavily guarded city before an important meeting of the Communist Party took the whole country by surprise. it was done.
But then dissidents found a way to spread their message abroad. The Beijing Bridge protest slogan has been posted on billboards, utility poles and bus stations at his more than 200 universities in at least 20 countries, with many Chinese students paying tribute to the protesters and criticizing Xi’s tyranny and says they are fighting.
“I used to be surrounded by a deep sense of helplessness against political resistance, but the protesters in Beijing inspired me and made me realize there was a way to fight,” said Sington Zhang, 24, a Chinese student at the University of Toronto. showed,” he said. Social media banner. She then put up dozens of “Dictator Out” posters around campus at dawn.
Compared to other authoritarian states such as Russia, Iran and Myanmar, China is seen by many human rights groups as less lenient on free speech and government protests. Under Xi Jinping, the threat of national security, online censorship, and harsh penalties are mixed, and opposition and criticism are severely suppressed. No independent media or civil society organizations remain after his ten years of rule.American pro-democracy group Freedom House ranks China last internet freedom 8 years in a row.
Zhang said many Chinese, especially those who entered high school after Mr. Xi came to power, did not know how to fight authoritarianism at home and abroad.
“Now we have a Beijing protester and I can respect him,” she said. I know.”
Some new activists fear there is a risk of opposing the Chinese government outside of China.
A student who posted anti-Chinese posters on campus at the University of Texas at Austin said he feared he would be targeted and harassed by nationalist Chinese students. , declined to be identified by full name, citing the same reason.
Zhang She fears she will be harassed by other Chinese students, assuming the majority are nationalists.
She finds that most of the posters have been demolished and some are left half-hanging from the bulletin board. “It was heartbreaking for her, but it was a relief,” she said. “If you keep posting until the party convention is over, it’s okay if your poster is taken down.”
The anti-Chinese slogans abroad gained prominence after they were collected and shared by pro-democracy Instagram accounts run by anonymous volunteers, mostly by Chinese expats.
“A brave man needs an echo,” said one of the groups, Citizens Daily CN. Posted on Instagram.