This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.
In a rare sign of public dissent, three pro-democracy banners hung on an overpass in China’s southwestern city of Chengdu early Tuesday morning, according to a prominent citizen journalist on X.
The display appeared to be inspired by ‘Bridge Man’ Peng Lifa, who hung similar banners on the busy Sitong Bridge in Beijing, sparking the White Paper protests of November 2022.
During those protests, which took place in several cities in China, people showed blank sheets of paper to symbolize that authorities gave them no voice amid anger over the loss of freedom and pandemic lockdowns.
Tuesday’s display in Chengdu did not appear to set off any street protests, but the pictures of the banners caused a stir online and were reportedly soon blocked and removed when shared on WeChat.
Pictures of the banners were originally sent to X account @whyyoutouzhele, also known as “Mr. Li is not your teacher,” by a contributor who claimed he had been preparing these slogans for over a year and hoped the popular X account, which has over 1.9 million followers, would help him spread his message.
The banners read: “Without political system reform, there will be no national rejuvenation,” “The people do not need a political party with unrestrained power,” and “China does not need anyone to point out the direction, democracy is the direction,” according to the X account, which is maintained by artist-turned-citizen journalist Li Ying and shot to prominence during the “White Paper” protests.
Shortly after the original post, which went up at 06:20 am Beijing time on Tuesday, a followup post confirmed that the banners were hung from a bridge outside Chengdu’s Chadianzi Bus Station. Local residents confirmed the location of the banners – hung from a bridge near the Chadianzi Third Ring Road Interchange in Jinniu District, Chengdu.
Subsequently, a second followup post on the same X account on Tuesday evening, confirmed that the man who had shared the information with Mr. Li had been out of contact for more than 13 hours.
“The last thing he wanted to convey to the public through us was that he hoped democracy could be realized as soon as possible,” according to the final post at 07:58 pm Beijing time on Tuesday.
RFA called the Jinniu District Public Security Bureau and Chengdu’s Chadianzi Police Station to seek confirmation about the banners. A police officer at the station said incidents at the Third Ring Road were outside its jurisdiction.
Rights activists opined that the display of banners reflected latent political dissatisfaction and desire for change that is prevalent in Chinese society.
“In the past few decades of the CCP’s rule, there have been many people who demand democracy. Although the voices from the people are very weak, there are always calls to break through the darkness and yearn for light,” said Guo Min, a former police officer turned political activist who relocated to the United States two years ago.
An activist in Chengdu, who only gave his name as Zhao for safety reasons, said the banner incident “is a direct expression of dissatisfaction with the system and despair with reality.”
