Dozens of Chinese residents in Southern California gathered in front of the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles on Saturday to share their experiences of being threatened and detained in mainland China for expressing their opinions, protesting against human rights violations, and advocating for freedom for Chinese people.
At the rally organized by the “Christian Coalition Against Communism,” protesters held banners and slogans that read “Reject brainwashing and surveillance, protest against DeepSeek surveillance of the people” and expressed support for dismantling the Great Firewall.
One of the speakers, Li Tianhui from Shenzhen, recounted his experience of being detained in May 2020 along with others for protesting against unauthorized fees imposed by the village committee. They were interrogated by the police, accused of disrupting social order, and threatened with charges of subverting state power.
Li expressed his anger at the Chinese Communist Party’s use of technology to monitor citizens, including installing surveillance cameras outside his home, causing him to feel fearful and oppressed by constant scrutiny.
He also mentioned the hardships faced during the lockdown in Shenzhen due to the pandemic, where residents were restricted in their movements and faced limitations on obtaining necessary medications, leading to tragic consequences for some.
Another attendee, Cheng Hong from Xi’an, shared a heartbreaking story of how her mother, who suffered from diabetes, was denied access to medication during the lockdown, resulting in her health deteriorating rapidly and ultimately passing away.
Zeng Yuhan from Jiangxi, who runs an e-commerce business in China, described the oppressive tactics of local officials and the censorship he faced for expressing dissenting opinions online. He highlighted the indoctrination of children in schools and the pressure to conform to communist ideology, emphasizing the need for freedom of speech and thought.
Feng Chunyu, a member of the China Democratic Party, spoke of his own experiences of extortion and harassment by Chinese officials and the importance of freedom of speech in countering authoritarian rule. He emphasized that every individual deserves dignity and the right to express their beliefs without fear of reprisal.
The organizers of the rally raised concerns about the proliferation of surveillance technology like DeepSeek, which they described as a state-level control and manipulation system that infringes on citizens’ privacy and freedom of expression. They warned against the use of innovative technologies by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent and urged vigilance in safeguarding democratic values.
The participants called for heightened awareness and resistance against the Chinese government’s efforts to stifle freedom and manipulate technology for oppressive purposes, stressing the need to prevent authoritarian regimes from exploiting advancements in technology to undermine democracy.