Rei Xia, a Chinese activist involved in the Blank Paper protests, has accused China of employing censorship and "widespread use of police violence" against "peaceful" protesters. Xia made this statement in a press release for the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) on November 25.
"The transnational suppression of overseas Chinese communities who showed support to the protests further revealed the regime's intention to spread fear and enforce censorship globally," said Rei Xia, Chinese Activist.
According to the CHRD press release, the Blank Paper protests began in late November 2022 when demonstrators took to the streets with blank sheets of paper as a symbol of censorship by the Chinese government. These protests were sparked by public outrage over a deadly fire in Urumqi and strict COVID-19 lockdown measures. Protest locations included Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Wuhan. The protests were followed by mass arrests and reports of police brutality aimed at deterring further demonstrations.
Amnesty International reported that at least 10 people died in an apartment fire in China because they were unable to escape due to stringent COVID-19 restrictions. The "White Paper" or "Blank Paper" protest movement started on November 24, 2022, with protesters holding up blank sheets of paper to signify government censorship.
The CHRD is described as a "coalition of Chinese and international rights non-governmental organizations" focused on promoting human rights and supporting democracy through grassroots activism efforts. According to their website, they provide grants for activists to implement human rights projects, offer legal aid and emergency assistance to "victims of human rights abuses," and monitor human rights cases in China.
On November 24, 2022, an apartment fire in Urumqi killed at least 10 people, with strict COVID-19 controls reportedly trapping residents inside. Following this incident, protests erupted across China and spread internationally as part of the "White Paper Movement," symbolized by blank sheets representing government censorship. Nathan, a protester involved in the movement, said it "changed my life." He said that they are no longer "disempowered" but can become "activists" fighting for human rights and justice.
The CHRD has called on the international community to urge Beijing to: "immediately and unconditionally release individuals detained solely for their peaceful participation in the Blank Paper protests," and allow visits by entities such as the "Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances" and other Special Procedures. They also urged for sanctions against Chinese state actors responsible for "grave" human rights violations. The organization said that the Human Rights Council should hold a "special session on China" and establish a UN mechanism like a Special Rapporteur to monitor China's human rights situation.
