A Man In China Held A Rare Protest By Projecting Anti-Government Slogans Onto A Building For Almost An Hour
“Seeking freedom and democracy is something everyone should do,” Qi said.
On the night of Friday, Aug. 29, an activist projected large anti-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) slogans onto the wall of a building near Chongqing University, in Chongqing, China, for more than 50 minutes, sparking widespread attention both in and outside the country.
The projected messages included: “Only without the Communist Party can there be a new China. Freedom is not given and must be taken back”; “Rise up, you who refuse to be slaves, fight to take back your rights”; “Down with red fascism, end communist tyranny” and more.
Police found a letter left by the activist at the site, according to popular Chinese activist account “Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher” (whyyoutouzhele on X).
In the letter, the activist said “the crimes of the Communist Party on this land are countless,” calling on officers not to “side with tyranny.”
The note accused the CCP of destroying families through decades of political campaigns, calling it “fascist.”
On Sunday, Aug. 31, the activist, who identified himself as as a man named Qi Hong, gave his first interview on the “Bumingbai” podcast, which covers Chinese political issues.
Qi said he began preparing the action on Aug. 10, staying in a hotel across the building to test the projection equipment.
He then left China with his family for the UK on Aug. 20 and completed the projection remotely nine days later.
Qi said his protest was inspired by Bridge Man, lone protester Peng Zaizhou, who unfurled two protest banners on the Sitong Bridge in Beijing in 2022.
The banners read: “No COVID tests, but life. No Cultural Revolution, but reform. No lockdowns, but freedom. No rulers but elections. No lies, but dignity. No slaves, but citizens” and “Students, workers, strike. Depose the dictator and national traitor Xi Jinping.”
Qi said he was also inspired by the “White Paper Protests” , when demonstrators held up blank pieces of white paper to protest against the Chinese government’s zero-COVID policy in some of the largest protests in China since 1989.
“Seeking freedom and democracy is something everyone should do,” Qi said.
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