On October 26, Chinese dissidents in Los Angeles gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate to hold a protest, condemning the illegal arrest of several human rights lawyers, including Wang Yu and Jiang Tianyong, by the Wei County police in Hebei Province, China. These lawyers have been working hard to defend civil rights. Although they are facing the tough repression of the Chinese government, dissidents call on the public not to let these "people who carry firewood for the public freeze to death in the wind and snow", emphasizing that it is everyone's common responsibility to support and rescue them.

Wang Yu, Jiang Tianyong and other lawyers were illegally arrested

The cause of the protest originated from a corruption case related to Liu Meixiang, a salesperson of Beijing Ping An Insurance Company. Liu Meixiang's defense lawyers, including Wang Yu, Bao Longjun, Jiang Tianyong, etc., were accused of illegally representing the case and were arrested by the Chinese police. Since the "709 Crackdown" incident in 2015, these human rights lawyers have repeatedly become the targets of suppression by the Chinese authorities. Not only were they illegally detained, but they were also deprived of their defense qualifications. Especially Bao Longjun, in the case of Liu Meixiang, the Wei County Court illegally disqualified him as a defense lawyer on the grounds that he had been detained.

On October 23, the trial of Liu Meixiang's case was held in Wei County, Hebei. During the trial, Liu Meixiang's husband Qiu Bin was detained for taking photos in front of the court gate. Later, Wang Yu and Jiang Tianyong were also arrested by the police and charged with "reporting a false case" and "disturbing the order of the court" respectively. As of now, they have not been released.

Support at the protest site highlights global support for human rights

The protest in Los Angeles attracted many Chinese dissidents and human rights activists. They held up banners calling for the immediate release of these lawyers who fight to uphold the law and human rights. The organizers of the event stressed that "lawyers fighting for civil rights cannot be treated so cruelly by the government" and urged the international community to continue to put pressure on them to rescue these lawyers.

Wu Fengjian, a member of the China Democratic Party, read an open letter from Bao Longjun, thanking all those who supported and supported Liu Meixiang's case. Protesters also called the local police station in Wei County to demand the release of the detained lawyers and their families. However, all calls were either unanswered or hung up, showing that local law enforcement agencies were evasive in their response to outside inquiries.

Human rights lawyers face wider oppression

Since the "709 Crackdown" in 2015, the Chinese authorities have intensified their crackdown on human rights lawyers. These lawyers provide legal support to human rights defenders, dissidents and wronged citizens, but have become a thorn in the eyes of the authorities. They face not only legal obstacles, but also long-term detention and mental torture.

Wu Fengjian, who participated in the protest, pointed out that she had witnessed the erratic government policies in China, especially in the power industry where she worked. She was deeply dissatisfied with the government's direct arrest of lawyers without any notice, and said that the families of these lawyers also faced severe crackdowns from the government, and worried that the collective punishment policy would affect innocent people.

Mr. Zhang, who also participated in the event, is a legal scholar who used to work in the Chinese legal field. He said that as a legal practitioner, he knew that lawyers should enjoy the most basic professional protection and should not be suppressed for exercising their legal duties. He hoped that the arrested lawyers would be released as soon as possible, and called on the Chinese government to respect the law and listen to the voices of the people and the international community.

Telephone support actions were rejected, showing the government's oppressive attitude

During the protest, the organizers tried to contact the Wei County Public Security Bureau and the police station by phone many times, but all the calls were either unanswered or hung up immediately after hearing the intention. This series of reactions highlights the local government's fear and avoidance of external supervision, and also makes the protesters more determined to continue to support and pay attention to these lawyers.

Jie Lijian, the person in charge of the protest site, said, "The Chinese government continues to suppress real legal workers in the name of law. This behavior of knowing the law and breaking it is not only outrageous, but also highlights the CCP's disregard for citizens' rights." He also quoted the old saying "Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it", emphasizing that the power of the people will eventually defeat injustice and oppression.

Los Angeles human rights activists continue to pay attention and support Xu Zhiyong

While protesting the arrest of lawyers such as Wang Yu and Jiang Tianyong, human rights activists in Los Angeles also planned to hold another support event the next day to protest the Chinese government's torture and persecution of Xu Zhiyong. Xu Zhiyong is a well-known Chinese human rights lawyer who has been suppressed by the authorities many times for his participation in promoting civil rights and social justice. The protesters hope to arouse more attention and support from the international community through such activities.

Conclusion: Continued support, calling for international intervention

The protest in Los Angeles is not only a support for the plight of Chinese human rights lawyers, but also a strong opposition to the Chinese authorities' suppression of civil rights. Whether it is Wang Yu, Jiang Tianyong, or Xu Zhiyong, they are all fighting for fairness and justice in Chinese society. Although their situation is difficult, the power of justice will not be suppressed.

The attention of the international community to these human rights lawyers is crucial. Only through continuous pressure and supervision can these lawyers who fight for the public interest get the legal protection and freedom they deserve. As the protesters said, "Those who carry firewood for the public should not be frozen to death in the wind and snow." Every voice and support is a strong force against oppression and injustice.