China's Most Audacious Anti-Government Protest Takes a Dimly Lit Stand

For months, Qi Hong, a former factory worker, planned and executed an elaborate anti-government protest in China, projecting critical messages on a high-rise building in Chongqing, the country's largest city. During the massive military parade hosted by President Xi Jinping, Qi displayed four rotating messages, including "Down with red fascism; overthrow the tyranny of the Communist Party" and "Not lies, but the truth. Not slavery, but freedom. Communist Party, step down." The protest was meticulously planned, with Qi choosing a building with many university students and using a projector that could be activated remotely. The messages were intended to inspire the students and others, much like the "white paper" protests in 2022.

Qi, who had obtained tourist visas to the UK earlier, hid in a hotel room and remotely controlled the projector from 8,000 miles away. The police found and dismantled the set-up 50 minutes later, but Qi had also installed a camera to record the raid. He had also placed a camera to capture his mother's interrogation by the police.

Key Takeaways:

• Qi Hong, a former factory worker, planned and executed an elaborate anti-government protest in China, showcasing critical messages on a high-rise building in Chongqing.
• The protest was meticulously planned, with Qi choosing a building with many university students and using a projector that could be activated remotely.
• Qi intended for the messages to inspire the students and others, much like the "white paper" protests in 2022.
• Qi remotely controlled the projector from 8,000 miles away in the UK, using a hidden camera to record the police raid.
• The protest was met with police intervention, with Qi's brother and mother being detained and interrogated.
• Qi's accounts have been frozen in China, and his relatives are no longer reachable due to its repercussions.
• Praise for his activism and heroism has poured in, but Qi sees himself as a regular citizen who spoke his truth.

Statistics:

• The protest took place on August 29.
• The messages were displayed on a high-rise building in Chongqing, China's largest city.
• 8,000 miles separated Qi from the protest site in the UK.
• 50 minutes elapsed before the police found and dismantled the set-up.
• Qi had a camera installed to record the police raid and his mother's interrogation.

Sources:

• The Telegraph (citation for the article)
• Human Rights Watch (statement by Maya Wang, associate Asia director)