The leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, is set to visit the United States from the 23rd to the 25th. On September 20th, a group organized by a pro-Communist group in New York’s Chinatown held a parade under the guise of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, but in reality, it was to welcome Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S. The group clashed with democracy activists protesting Xi Jinping’s visit on Main St. in the Flushing Chinese community. They engaged in heated debates on whether the CCP represents China.
During the parade, jointly organized by the American Prosperous Chinatown Association, the American Fujian Monkey Island Association, and the Northeast Fellow Towns Association of New York, it was revealed by an insider that the parade, supposedly in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and the Mid-Autumn Festival, was actually a show of support for Xi Jinping’s visit, with a mobilization meeting held at Jun Hau Restaurant in Flushing, reportedly costing $500,000 with the attendance of Chinese consulate officials.
Simultaneously, several Chinese democracy groups, including the China Democracy Party International Alliance, the China Democracy and Human Rights Alliance, the China New Era People’s Party, and the Christian Justice Alliance, held a protest in Flushing against Xi Jinping’s visit. After the gathering, the protesters marched from the Flushing central area to the vicinity of Maple Avenue, crossing paths with the welcoming procession for Xi Jinping.
The democracy activists held placards reading “Bury the CCP” and “Xi Jinping is a traitor”, chanting slogans such as “Down with the Communist Party” and “End the tyranny of the Communist Party.” Tensions mounted as both sides engaged in heated arguments.
Amid the chaos, a man rushed towards the democracy activists, attempting to seize protest signs. He was swiftly subdued and taken into police custody. The parade participants and protesters continued exchanging verbal clashes, with police maintaining order at the scene.
As the debate escalated, a tall man in blue suddenly broke through the crowd, snatching a protest sign from a member of the China Democracy Party, Yang Lei, causing a physical altercation. Police quickly apprehended the man and handcuffed him before placing him in a police vehicle.
Yang Lei, in an interview, described the man’s actions as an “ambush,” reiterating the peaceful and rational nature of the protest by democracy activists. He conveyed that while he opposes Xi Jinping’s visit, he also sees it as an opportunity for their voices to be heard. Yang Lei emphasized that the CCP does not represent the Chinese people and continues to persecute them, leading to many Chinese seeking refuge abroad.
Yang Maosen, witnessing the scuffle and police intervention, lamented those who blindly support the CCP, warning of the consequences of aligning with the regime. Amid ongoing disagreements, another scuffle ensued when a pro-CCP supporter knocked a protester’s phone to the ground, briefly escalating tensions before police intervened.
Yang Maosen expressed concern over individuals openly endorsing the CCP while benefiting from U.S. welfare programs. He highlighted the importance of investigating those who obtain political asylum under false pretenses and maintain ties with the CCP, warning of potential security threats posed by infiltrators during public events like the parade.
The heated exchanges between individuals on both sides underscored deeper tensions surrounding Xi Jinping’s visit and differing views on the CCP’s influence. Amid the clashes and diverging viewpoints, the presence of law enforcement was crucial in maintaining order and preventing further altercations.