On April 1, in Beijing’s western Shijingshan district, an elderly man climbed the exterior wall of a residential building more than 20 stories high. While positioned near the upper floors, he shouted toward people below: “Down with the Chinese Communist Party.”
A neighbor who said they witnessed the incident described it in a post on X, which was later shared by a blogger who tracks incidents of social unrest in China. “The old man in the building next to mine has been petitioning for years with no result,” the neighbor wrote. “He climbed more than 20 floors up the outside of the building to protest. He kept shouting his slogan.”
The neighbor added that the man appeared unwilling to return to safety and became physically exhausted during the incident.
Video circulating online shows the man moving slowly downward along the building’s exterior while continuing to call out. A bystander filming the scene can be heard reacting to the height and expressing fear.
China’s official petition system, known as “xinfang,” is intended to allow citizens to escalate grievances when local authorities fail to address them.
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However, legal advocates and rights groups have documented systemic issues within the process. Petitioners are often intercepted before reaching higher authorities, detained, or returned to their home regions. In some cases, individuals have reportedly been held in extrajudicial detention facilities referred to as “black jails.”
According to observers, individuals who remain in the petition system for extended periods without resolution may face increasing personal and financial strain, leaving limited options for recourse.
Online reaction shows public frustration
The video spread briefly online before being removed, prompting reactions from users who had viewed it.
One commenter wrote that “ordinary Chinese people are living under unbearable pressure.” Another described the situation as the result of long-term tension, writing that “the authorities have always pushed people to this point.”
Some comments reflected strong criticism of the political system. One user wrote that “without overthrowing this… regime, ordinary people will live like animals and die as slaves,” while another described the situation in stark terms.
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Public expressions of dissent reported in multiple cities
Since early 2026, multiple videos have emerged online showing individuals in China expressing criticism of the Communist Party in public settings.
In February, a man in Beijing delivered a speech inside a supermarket, questioning the persistence of authoritarian rule. “Human civilization has spent 5,000 years, East and West, overthrowing dictatorships,” he said in a video. “And here we still are, under one.”
In another case, a young man posted a video stating, “I love my homeland. I do not love the political party that governs it,” distinguishing between the country and its ruling party.
In Guangzhou, a shirtless man with his hands bound behind his back was seen walking through a commercial district while surrounded by police officers. As he moved through the crowd, he shouted that “the lives of the poor don’t count,” followed by criticism directed at the Party.
In Tianjin, a blogger recorded a video stating, “If you can’t openly discuss an organization, you should never join it.” The video’s comment section was later deleted.
Overseas protest in New York targets CCP leadership
Outside China, Chinese expatriate groups have also staged protests.
On the second day of the Chinese New Year, activists gathered outside the Chinese consulate in New York carrying a black coffin in a symbolic demonstration. The event was organized by groups including the Alliance for Chinese Human Rights and Democracy, the Democratic China Front, and the Chinese Democracy Party. Organizers said many participants had experienced persecution before leaving China.
Protesters chanted slogans including “Down with the Communist Party” and “Down with Xi Jinping.”
Ji Lijian, identified as vice chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party United Association, addressed the gathering. He described the Communist Party as “the most poisonous serpent in human history” and said opposition to the Party was increasing both internationally and within China.
Jin Xiuhong, chair of the Alliance for Chinese Human Rights and Democracy, also spoke at the event, calling for an end to Communist Party rule.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on social media footage, online posts, and commentary cited by overseas sources. The incident and related claims have not been independently verified.
