Human rights organizations worldwide are urging China’s communist regime to release Peng Lifa, also known as the “Bridge Man,” who vanished after being arrested for staging a rare protest in Beijing two years ago. In October 2022, Peng hung two banners on an overpass in China’s capital city, criticizing the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its leader, Xi Jinping. The protest was a response to Beijing’s “zero-COVID” policy, which had sparked widespread discontent among Chinese citizens due to its strict lockdown measures.
Since his arrest, Peng has not been seen in public and no formal charges have been filed against him. This has raised concerns that he may be subjected to ill-treatment or extrajudicial detention. Following his arrest, Beijing authorities swiftly took action by censoring all online discussions and media coverage of the incident. Social media platforms even banned words and phrases associated with the protest in an attempt to prevent it from gaining traction among the public.
Various groups, including the Visual Artists Guild based in Los Angeles, have called on the Chinese regime to stop harassing Peng’s family and release him immediately. In 2023, this organization honored Peng with the “Champion of Free Speech” award for his bravery in speaking out despite the risks involved.
Supporters of Peng have also organized demonstrations outside China to urge the international community to hold Beijing accountable for his disappearance. On October 13th this year, activists gathered outside the Chinese Consulate in Iceland demanding Peng’s release while emphasizing their broader struggle for freedom of expression within China.
Zhou Feng, a member of both a Chinese democracy advocacy group and Iceland’s branch of the Chinese Democratic Party accused CCP of violating basic human rights by depriving Peng Lifa of his freedom without any disclosure regarding his whereabouts.
Zhou emphasized that this issue is not just about one man but about fighting for freedom and justice for everyone. He called upon global communities to join forces and pressure China into releasing Peng Lifa from unjust persecution.
Peng Lifa’s arrest may have silenced him physically but it ignited widespread support for a free democratic China according Wang from The Epoch Times newspaper.
Unfortunately,Peng’s case is not unique as another activist named Fang Yirong was arrested after hanging a banner calling on people to reject autocracy over a bridge in Hunan Province earlier this year; Fang’s whereabouts remain unknown since then