“The intimidation began before Xi arrived, with prominent human rights advocates such as Anna Kwok of the Hong Kong Democracy Council receiving horrendous threats on social media after announcing her plans to participate in anti-CCP protests,” says the statement.
On November 28, 2023, in response to videos “showing China human rights advocates being beaten by pro-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) counter-protestors during San Francisco’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit,” Republican U.S. Representative Chris Smith and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, who lead the Congressional-Executive Commission, issued a formal statement to decry the violence.
“We, the Chairs of the CECC, strongly condemn the reported violence perpetrated against individuals exercising their rights of freedom of expression and assembly in the United States. We urge San Francisco County police to review these reports and pursue justice as appropriate.”
San Francisco police stood around and allowed the violence to occur, and, so far as reports reveal, have yet to arrest any perpetrators. They say that an investigation is underway.
The local Chinese consulate likely had a hand in arranging the pro-CCP protests and likely was not blindsided by the conduct of the pro-CCP protestors.
Also calling for an investigation is the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which is urging the Justice Department to get cracking. In a November 29, 2023 letter to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark, Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi request
that you provide us with information regarding the recent attacks on peaceful pro-democracy protestors at the APEC Summit and a description of which policies your office is implementing to ensure that these vulnerable people are protected.
Over the last decade, we have repeatedly seen the threats that the CCP poses to U.S.-based people who dare speak out against Xi Jinping, the Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang, cultural genocide against Tibetans, and other human rights abuses in the PRC….
Therefore, we request that you provide the Select Committee with a briefing regarding the recent attacks on peaceful pro-democracy protestors at the APEC Summit and steps the DOJ is taking to ensure their safety at future protests as soon as possible but no later than December 13, 2023.
The letter closes with phone numbers that Clark can call to arrange to brief the committee.
Associated Press reports on the testimony of one of the anti-CCP protestors (November 29, 2023):
Kaiyu Zhang, who moved from Shanghai to Los Angeles in March, told reporters he and two other demonstrators were assaulted Nov. 17 by a group of young men wearing red headbands or arm bands after leaving a protest at the city’s international airport as leaders were departing the city.
His remarks came a day after bipartisan leaders of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China condemned efforts to silence critics of the Chinese Communist Party, known as the CCP. Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey and Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon cited videos from protests at the APEC summit showing human rights activists being harassed and assaulted by counterdemonstrators.
Zhang wonders: “How could this happen in America? This thing’s supposed to only happen in China.” It looks like China didn’t get the memo.
