In China, the activist Shi Tingfu, known in the overseas Chinese community as a “defender of righteousness,” was wrongfully sentenced to three years in the Altay Reclamation Area Court in Xinjiang in February. This unjust verdict came after enduring long periods of abuse by the police and prison authorities. Recent reports indicate that his health has deteriorated in prison, causing great concern among overseas Chinese seeking justice.
Calls for the immediate release of Shi Tingfu echoed in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles last Saturday. Dozens of Chinese individuals gathered to demand authorities allow Shi Tingfu to receive medical treatment outside of prison. Protesters held up banners with Shi Tingfu’s picture and unfurled a large banner that read “Dismantle the Chinese Communist Party, End the Persecution.”
A 65-year-old native of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Shi Tingfu had been a supporter of the 1989 student movement. In the 1990s, he was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of extortion and blackmail after being physically assaulted by descendants of high-ranking Chinese officials in a civil dispute. His son Shi Jing was beaten and wounded while visiting him.
Shi Tingfu’s experiences as a human rights defender fueled his desire for freedom and human rights. Despite facing ongoing political persecution, he bravely spoke out on various occasions, aiming to promote universal values and assist other human rights defenders.
“Shi Tingfu’s blood pressure spiked to over 200 in the Altay Prison in Xinjiang, nearly taking him from us,” said Jie Lijian, the Deputy Chairman of the United Headquarters of the Chinese Democratic Party, who organized the protest activities. Shi Tingfu suffers from high blood pressure, pneumonia, lumbar disc herniation, diabetes, and bone and joint misalignment caused by police beatings.
Shi Jing was arrested by the Altay police in Xinjiang in January on charges of colluding with foreign forces and attempting to subvert state power. He was initially released on bail pending trial.
Before his imprisonment, Shi Tingfu had taken to the streets numerous times to personally advocate for rights defense, urging people to engage in human rights activities. Even in prison, he continues to uphold human rights, advising people not to become slaves of the Communist Party or be like futureless “leeks.”
“Shi Tingfu’s deeds touch every friend,” Jie Lijian said. “We have repeatedly called for more attention to be paid to these grassroots heroes.” Attendees also sent dozens of postcards to the Altay Prison, hoping for Shi Tingfu’s recovery and early release.
Speaking at the event, Guan Yang from Tianjin stated that the Chinese authorities have suppressed human rights lawyers, dissidents, and independent journalists, leading to a series of tragedies, with only the tip of the iceberg being exposed.
She commended Shi Tingfu for his selfless dedication to fighting for freedom and human rights for the Chinese people, even at the cost of his own freedom. “What we can do overseas is to support them with our utmost effort. The light of their freedom and civilization, earned through personal freedom and even life itself, will also shine upon us,” she said.
Liu Guangxian from Jiangsu described Shi Tingfu as a loving person who has always strived for the welfare of the Chinese people. The persecution he faced from the Chinese Communist Party, which extended to his son, made Liu reflect on his own situation, expressing his desire to not see his children standing on the streets or protesting in front of consulates in the future.
“Protesting and overthrowing the tyranny of the CCP is the mission of our generation,” Liu declared.
Li Li from Hubei believed that the Chinese people are currently in the darkest era, with the Communist Party poisoning China for over seventy years. While claiming to serve the people, the CCP restricts freedom of speech, suppresses and persecutes dissenters, leading Li to conclude that without removing the Communist Party, China cannot progress toward democracy, and the world will not find peace.
Chen Lijun from Hebei expressed how severe the oppression and persecution of the Chinese people by the Communist Party have become, while noting the rarity of individuals willing to stand up and resist. He found Shi Tingfu’s actions deeply inspiring and admirable. “If all of us could bravely resist like Shi Tingfu, the Chinese people would gain more human rights and freedoms.”
Regarding Shi Tingfu’s three-year imprisonment on charges of provocation and troublemaking, Lai Jianping, a former Beijing lawyer now residing in Canada, denounced it as another human rights injustice fabricated by the Chinese authorities. He emphasized that freedom of speech is a fundamental right established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other international human rights laws, as well as in the Chinese Constitution.
“Lai Jianping noted that sending his own or others’ petition materials to domestic and foreign media for exposure is a legitimate form of expression and a rightful act of human rights defense. The legal framing of Shi Tingfu by the Chinese authorities and his conviction on baseless charges is illegal, barbaric, and evil, warranting strong condemnation.