On January 4, the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles attracted attention and condemnation for a security guard’s use of pepper spray on protesters gathered outside, resulting in multiple injuries. Last Saturday, the Chinese Democratic Party Headquarters held a press conference in Industry City, Los Angeles County, announcing criminal and civil lawsuits against the security guard, his company, and the consulate.
Chairman Zheng Cunzhu of the Chinese Democratic Party Headquarters stated during the press conference that the security guard’s use of pepper spray caused physical and psychological harm to peaceful protesters from various groups, including several members of the Chinese Democratic Party. To date, the consulate has not issued any apology. Instead, he observed that the CCP has utilized domestic media to claim the security guard dispersed “Taiwan independence” personnel, aiming to confuse the public and brainwash them.
Zheng Cunzhu outlined three main purposes of the press conference. First, to present the true situation to the public. He emphasized that reports from mainland Chinese party media about troublemakers being removed by the consulate are completely distorting the facts and could mislead overseas Chinese who frequently browse domestic social media.
He stated, “The security guard employed by the consulate violated U.S. law by using pepper spray – a method not allowed by the law – to violently suppress peaceful protesters without facing any violent threats. That is the truth.”
“Secondly, we want to uphold our constitutional rights,” Zheng Cunzhu expressed. “The United States protects freedom of speech and our right to peaceful demonstrations. The consulate’s employed security guard harassing and physically assaulting our peaceful assembly violates the U.S. Constitution’s protection of free speech and assembly.”
He also pointed out, “From a civil law perspective, he (the security guard) inflicted personal harm on participants present. Based on the same fact, we will file civil lawsuits against the Chinese consulate, the security company, and the specific perpetrators.”
Zheng Cunzhu stressed that the consulate bears joint responsibility for the incident. “Because the security personnel it employs fundamentally do not understand U.S. law and resort to violence against others, it itself bears responsibility, whether subjective or negligent, it has civil joint liability.”
According to him, the area on the street in front of the consulate is marked as a no-parking “red zone,” yet the security guard parked several cars there. During verbal confrontations, one security guard suddenly resorted to violence. He explained further, “Their illegal parking was to prevent us from holding peaceful protest activities. In terms of the cause of the incident, the verbal conflict was also instigated by the security guard.”
On the day of the violent incident, seven to eight people were affected by pepper spray, with the most severe reactions leading to three individuals being rushed to the hospital for treatment. Most of the injured were members of the Chinese Democratic Party Headquarters.
Approximately a month prior, the consulate changed its frontline security guards. Since then, multiple civilian organizations gathering outside the consulate to protest have felt pressured by the security guards.
Victim Le Zailin mentioned that this security company has been provoking protesters since their appointment, calling them “traitors to the country.”
“He (the perpetrator) is not doing this for the first time,” Le Zailin said. “From December 14, December 21 last year, to the three events on January 4, he has been engaging in similar insults and provocations at the scene.”
Recalling the day of the incident, during an argument with the security guard, he heard the guard say, “You stand behind me, we…” “From the video, it can be seen that he said it several times, which is a clear death threat… with one hand holding pepper spray and the other hand halfway pulling out a gun and putting it back,” Le Zailin said.
He then asked the guard, “You clearly said you would use force, clearly threatening our lives, asking us ‘Can you die three times?’ Why did you ask our party members to stand behind you?” The security guard was “at a loss for words.”
According to him, another victim, Chen Ning, told the security guard, “Your law enforcement conduct asserted on American soil is illegal and a violation of U.S. sovereignty.” Subsequently, the security guard completely lost control.
Le Zailin admitted feeling very panicked at the time, knowing that the CCP has always used ruthless means against the people. He feared being monitored and was worried about his family’s safety. That night, he relocated his child to another place and then went to the court to apply for an emergency restraining order to protect his family and himself.
“Their (CCP) methods are unpredictable. This time they used pepper spray, next time they might just directly shoot,” he stated.
Reflecting on the moment when pepper spray hit his face, victim Fu Chaoqun described, “I was completely stunned, feeling suffocated, unable to breathe, my face burning, feeling like I was about to die. I just crouched on the ground.” “Even on this land of freedom in the United States, the CCP dared to be so ruthless; what would we face in the homeland?” he questioned.
Zheng Cunzhu believes that the responsibility of the security company is to maintain order at the scene and prevent protesters from impacting the consulate. Strangely, the security guard insulted the protesters as “traitors to the country,” stating, “When he called us traitors to the country, he must have stood with the CCP consulate, he is no longer a security guard, but has become a thug of the Communist Party.”
Regarding the treatment received by protesters after the replacement of security guards, Zheng Cunzhu views it as a new means of the CCP cracking down on overseas democracy movements. The authorities may intentionally provoke incidents through such security companies, subjecting peaceful protesters to mental stress. This makes them feel that not only can the Communist Party “press” them domestically, but also they are not safe overseas.
Since the incident, the Chinese Consulate has yet to apologize for the harm caused. Zheng Cunzhu stated that the CCP has never acknowledged any wrongdoing since its founding, even when tens of millions of people died of starvation in the 1960s, they never apologized to the Chinese people.
He reiterated that they will pursue criminal and civil responsibilities of the security company, the security staff involved, and the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles in court. ◇