Protest against zero Covid: The spark is ignited

Streets and squares packed with protesters in a dozen cities – there has not been this much courage against the government in China in decades. Even the resignation of the all-powerful head of state and party leader was called for by some of the protesters: In Shanghai on Wulumuqi Road in the center of the city named after the western Chinese city of Urumqi, protesters chanted, “Xi Jinping, xiatai, Gongchangdang, xiatai” – “Down with Xi Jinping, down with the Communist Party.” And, “We don’t want dictatorship. We want democracy.” Police forces initially responded with restraint, but eventually used pepper spray to break up the protests.