Chinese citizens protested after a video went viral in which a young student was assaulted
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The Chinese Communist Party sent security forces to brutally suppress peaceful protesters this week who demanded justice for a 14-year-old girl who was a victim of bullying by her schoolmates, in a new episode that sparked a strong reaction across the country.
The public outrage, unusual in its intensity, was fueled by the widespread circulation of videos on Chinese social media. In the footage, a group of teenagers can be seen insulting and physically assaulting the young girl in Jiangyou, a city located in Sichuan province.
Local residents, motivated in part by what the Chinese regime described as "false versions" linking the strikers' families to public officials, clashed with local police, whom they accuse of protecting those responsible.
La represión china.
"Your children will meet children of higher-ranking officials than you. What would happen if they were beaten?" shouted a man from behind a barricade, according to one of the few videos shared on social media, since there is heavy censorship by the Chinese regime.
Other recordings, also verified but quickly removed by Chinese censorship, showed hundreds of people gathered in Jiangyou on Monday night. At times, protesters sang the Chinese national anthem as the police presence increased. Some confrontations escalated to physical contact, with people struggling with officers before being detained.
When contacted by phone on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Sichuan Public Security Department refused to comment on the case, referring to previous official statements.
According to the police report released on Monday, the incident occurred on July 22, when a 15-year-old girl, identified by her surname Liu, along with two other girls aged 13 and 14, assaulted the victim, surnamed Lai, in an abandoned building. The attack was recorded by witnesses and shared online, which triggered the public reaction.
Policía chino reprimiendo gente.
According to the police report, the assault left Lai with injuries to her head and knees, although all the injuries were classified as "minor." Authorities stated that, after the investigation, they immediately expressed their support for the victim and took appropriate measures.
The police indicated that Liu and another of the alleged strikers received "public security sanctions" and will be transferred to a special educational institution intended for the re-education of minors with problematic behavior. As for the bystanders who witnessed the attack, it was reported that they were "criticized and educated" through educational measures.
However, it was not specified why one of the three strikers did not receive any sanction or what the imposed punishments specifically entail. In China, legislation stipulates that those who participate in group fights can be detained for up to 15 days and face fines of up to 1,000 yuan (approximately 139 dollars). However, minors are exempt from detention and, instead, are subject to corrective education.
