http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12593328
There were calls once again by Chinese internet-frequenters for a peaceful protest by strolling through a popular shopping area in Beijing. Once again blowing the situation out of proportion, large numbers of plainclothes security detail were sent to the area. Because they could not pick out innocent bystanders from actual protesters, they chose to target foreign media who had come instead. Many of these media members were beaten and forcibly pushed into vans; a move that was way out of hand considering that nothing had occured.
This blog is meant to be a space for the Austin College community to discuss issues related to China and the Chinese language. For author permissions, please write to Dr. Jennifer Thackston Johnson: jtj.at.ac –at- gmail.com. Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas.
This protest was passive, much different from how the Chinese people protested before, with rousing rallies and much fanfare. However, the way the Chinese government and its musclemen handle the protesters was not much different. This time, yet again, the security detail seems to have overreacted. The mere fact that they could not tell apart the bystanders from the protesters shows that there was not a need for violence.
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