Thousands protested in the streets of China on Monday against the zero-Covid policy of Xi Jinping, with some demonstrators even calling for the leader’s removal.
Protesters gathered in Shanghai over the weekend, and some yelled that Jinping and Communist Party should step down.
Why this Protest?
A massive fire broke out in the west of Xinjiang on Thursday , which catalysed public outrage. Firefighters reached the spot late because of the lockdown imposed as a part of zero-Covid strategies, which sparked more public anger.
Protests Sparked
People came into the streets to show their grievance, Beijing to Shanghai, against the death of ten people in the blaze in Urumqi, Xinjiang’s capital, and called for democracy and freedom. Students also demonstrated this on university campuses. People broke down barriers in the locked-down neighbourhoods and showed massive protests against the lockdown on Friday night in Urumqi.
People gathered for a candlelight vigil in Urumqi to mourn the fire victims. People shouted and said they want freedom, not Covid test, dictatorship and democracy.
Demonstrations also spread to Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, not only to get freed from Covid restrictions but political freedom.
Protest in China is Rare
People gathering on the streets to show protest is a very rare picture in China as the Communist country doesn’t allow much freedom and democratic rights to show their defiance and anger.
But, the situation has changed since the pandemic, when people openly protested against the continuous use of Covid-19 preventive measures, including lockdowns, quarantines and Covid tests. People were outrageous of the excessive censorship and control of the Chinese government, which even led to a series of deaths.
Effect on the Stock Market
Early trades of Chinese stock markets and the yuan seemed to tumble amid concerns over how the government will respond to the protests.
