Rare protests break out against Xi in Chinese cities

In a rare development, angry citizens took to the streets in several cities in China including Shanghai to protest against COVID-19 restrictions that have brought life to a standstill.

According to a Reuters report from Shanghai, there is widespread public anger after 10 people were killed on Thursday in a deadly fire at a high-rise building in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang region, and many internet users said that residents could not escape in time because the building was under a Covid-19 lockdown.

In Shanghai, China’s biggest city, residents gathered on Saturday night at the city’s Wulumuqi Road for a vigil that turned into a protest in the early hours of Sunday, the Reuters report said.

“Lift lockdown for Urumqi, lift lockdown for Xinjiang, lift lockdown for all of China!” the crowds in Shanghai shouted, according to a video circulated on social media.

A large group began shouting, “Down with the Chinese Communist Party, down with Xi Jinping, free Urumqi!”, according to witnesses and videos, in a rare public protest against the Chinese leadership, the Reuters report states.

A large group of police looked on and sometimes tried to break up the crowd.

China is battling a surge in infections that has prompted lockdowns and other restrictions in cities across the country as Beijing adheres to a zero-COVID policy even as much of the world tries to coexist with the coronavirus.

China defends President Xi Jinping’s zero-COVID policy as essential to save lives. and prevent collapse of the healthcare system. The authorities have refused to relent on the draconian measures that have been put in place despite the growing public anger over the curbs which has hit livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Covid infections in China have hit a record high with nearly 40,000 new infections reported by health authorities on Sunday for the previous day.

On Friday night, crowds took to the streets of Urumqi, chanting “End the lockdown!” and pumping their fists in the air after the deadly fire, according to videos circulated on Chinese social media.

Many of Urumqi’s residents have been prevented from leaving their homes for over three months as part of China’s longest lockdowns.