Thousands of people took to the streets of Shanghai to remember the victims and demonstrate against the restrictions.
Posted Date – Sun, 11/27/22 at 01:59pm
(Photo by AFP/AFP)
Beijing: Protests in China over coronavirus restrictions appear to be intensifying after a fire at an apartment building in Urumqi killed 10 people, according to local media reports.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Shanghai to remember the victims and demonstrate against the restrictions. According to the BBC, many people have been heard calling for the resignation of President Xi Jinping.
The BBC saw at least three people being packed into a police van.
The blockade of apartment buildings has been blamed for the fire deaths.
While Chinese authorities denied that was the cause, officials in Urumqi did issue an unusual apology late Friday and promised to “restore order” by gradually lifting restrictions.
During protests in Shanghai, China’s largest city and global financial hub, candles and flowers were seen lit for victims.
Others were heard chanting slogans such as “Xi Jinping, step down” and “Communist Party, step down.” Some also held blank white banners.
According to the BBC, such requests are not common in China, and any direct criticism of the government and the president could lead to severe penalties.
One protester said he was “shocked and excited” to see people take to the streets, saying it was the first time he had seen dissent on such a scale in China.
He said the lockdown had left him feeling “sad, angry and hopeless” and had prevented him from seeing his unwell mother, who was undergoing cancer treatment.
One female demonstrator told the BBC that police were asked how they felt about the protests and the answer was “same as you”. But, she said, “they were in uniform, so they were doing their jobs.”
