Migrant Workers Stage Rare Protest in Beijing, Gain Unlikely Win

Migrant workers, stranded at a checkpoint outside Beijing due to strict Covid-19 controls, staged an unusual protest, resulting in a surprise victory. Despite facing violent suppression by police, the protesters, many of whom were accompanied by their families, demanded entry into the capital, citing the need to work and provide for their loved ones. The unrest occurred at a checkpoint in Yanjiao, a town 25 miles from Beijing, which attracts hundreds of thousands of commuters due to lower housing costs.

Key Takeaways:

• The protest, which was quickly deleted by government censors, showed hundreds of angry commuters chanting slogans, including "we need to commute; we need to eat."
• Police violently suppressed the crowds, with several protesters being rammed into, kicked, and sprayed with pepper spray.
• The protest took place at a checkpoint in Yanjiao, a town 25 miles outside of Beijing, which attracts hundreds of thousands of commuters.
• Entry into Beijing has been restricted since March, when the omicron variant began to spread, prompting local officials to enforce strict lockdowns.
• Residents of both Yanjiao and Beijing were isolated in their homes, with some being carted to hospital or quarantine facilities.
• As curbs have begun to relax, firms have started requiring people to return to work, while essential stores have reopened, necessitating staffing.
• A local police officer acquiesced, allowing commuters to pass, a surprise win for the migrant workers, who fear being fired if they don't return to work.
• The outcome of the protest is unclear, as Beijing officials have urged against non-essential travel even as the city reported just seven new cases.
• In Shanghai, residents face hours-long wait times for virus tests and must show negative results to enter public spaces, leading to growing frustration.

Statistics:

• The protest occurred at a checkpoint in Yanjiao, a town 25 miles outside of Beijing, which attracts hundreds of thousands of commuters.
• Entry into Beijing has been restricted since March, when the omicron variant began to spread in the city.
• The city has reported just seven new cases of Covid-19.
• Residents of both Yanjiao and Beijing were isolated in their homes for an unspecified period.
• Firms in Beijing have started requiring people to return to work, with many issuing final notices to absent employees.
• Comets at the checkpoint were initially denied entry and forced to wait, leading to the unusual protest.

Sources:

• "Migrant workers denied entry into Beijing stage rare protest, gain unlikely win" by Kevin Frayer, AP News
• "Beijing residents struggle with COVID-19 controls" by AP News
• "Covid-19: Shanghai residents face long queues for virus tests" by BBC News