Rally in Front of the San Francisco Chinese Consulate: Calling for the Release of Prisoners of Conscience and an End to Political Persecution
Reported by Miao Qing, Reporter for The Opposition Editor: Gloria Wang | Proofreader: Wang Bin | Translator: Lyu Feng
Abstract: On April 18, 2026, the San Francisco Branch of the China Democracy Party (CDP), along with several overseas pro-democracy activists, held a rally in front of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco. They called for the release of “prisoners of conscience” detained for their speech and beliefs and demanded an end to political crackdowns. Participants noted that as the space for free speech shrinks within China, overseas regions have become vital platforms for expression, emphasizing that freedom of thought and speech should never be criminalized.
I. Event Overview
[San Francisco] On April 18, 2026, members of the CDP San Francisco Branch and various overseas activists gathered for a public rally in front of the Chinese Consulate. They urged Chinese authorities to immediately release all “prisoners of conscience” detained for their speech, faith, and peaceful expression, and to cease ongoing political suppression and human rights abuses.
This rally also coincided with the recent leadership restructuring of the CDP San Francisco Branch, carrying significance for organizational renewal and the continuity of political mobilization. Participants argued that given the current political climate in China, where public space is continuously contracting, overseas activism serves as a critical domain for maintaining fundamental political expression.
II. Defining Prisoners of Conscience and Fundamental Rights
The rally was hosted by Miao Qing, Director of the Propaganda Department of the CDP San Francisco Branch, who delivered the keynote speech. He stated: “Conscience should never be a reason for crime.”
As defined by Amnesty International, “prisoners of conscience” refers to individuals deprived of their liberty solely for their speech, beliefs, or peaceful expression—a core concept aligned with the principles of freedom of thought and expression established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Miao Qing emphasized that in current politics, many individuals remain imprisoned long-term for adhering to factual reporting or independent convictions, citing cases such as Liu Xiaobo, Zhang Zhan, and Wang Yi. He pointed out that incorporating thought and expression into the criminal punishment system not only violates the basic principles of the modern rule of law but also strips society of its rational self-correction mechanisms. “If a society cannot accommodate dissenting opinions, its system lacks the capacity for self-reform.”
III. Institutional Suppression and Structural Case Studies
Multiple speakers mentioned human rights defenders and political figures currently detained or serving sentences, including Gao Zhisheng, Jimmy Lai, Xu Zhiyong, and Wang Bingzhang. Participants generally agreed that these are not isolated incidents but the result of institutional operations. Under the current political structure, any individual with independent expressive capacity or social mobilization potential is likely to be incorporated into the “risk governance” system.
IV. Institutional Filtering and Power Logic: The Phenomenon of “Reverse Selection”
Zhang Xiaoju, the new Deputy Secretary-General of the CDP San Francisco Branch, pointed out that the phenomenon discussed in his article, Reverse Selection in Totalitarian Systems, continues to intensify. He argued that the political system of the CCP excludes individuals with independent thinking and moral integrity from the power structure, while allowing those with high obedience and political adaptability to enter the core system.
“The CCP uses this filtering mechanism to send those with the most conscience to prison while allowing the most malevolent to sit in the halls of power,” Zhang stated. He further noted that this mechanism not only decides individual fates but also profoundly shapes the value structure and political ecology of the entire society.
V. Organizer’s Remarks: Cui Yunxing’s Political Stance
Cui Yunxing, Director of the Outreach Department and one of the organizers, stated: “The Communist Party relies on deception, lies, and oppression to maintain its rule. They have imprisoned countless journalists, lawyers, political prisoners, and pro-democracy activists. These people are heroes who should not be forgotten or silenced by history.”
He added, “We will never forget their contributions. We will redouble our efforts to inherit their cause and work tirelessly toward the goal of overthrowing the Communist Party and bringing Xi Jinping to justice.”
VI. Rule of Law and Expression Rights: Persistence of Institutional Issues
Participants noted that under the current environment, elastic charges such as “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” are widely used to restrict speech. While the law should serve as a tool to restrain power, it has increasingly become instrumentalized for governance, leaving citizen rights in a state of high uncertainty.
VII. International Perspectives and Comparative Experience
Some speakers noted that in the democratic transitions of various countries throughout history, the international environment and external pressure played roles at different stages. However, the ultimate stability of a democratic system still depends on domestic social structures, civic participation, and institutional rebuilding capacity.
VIII. Conclusion: From Individual Fate to Institutional Structure
The rally concluded with chants of “Release Prisoners of Conscience,” “Long Live Freedom,” and “Justice Will Prevail.” Participants concluded that the political maturity of a society lies not in its economic scale, but in whether it permits different voices to exist. The issue of prisoners of conscience, therefore, concerns not only individual fates but the very legitimacy of the institutional structure itself.
List of Pro-democracy Activists in Attendance: Miao Qing, Cui Yunxing, Zhang Xiaoju, Zhuang Fan, Li Shuqing, Gao Zhibin, He Cong, Guo Jianxin, Kang Jiaming, Hao Jianping, Gao Junying, Liu Chenchen, Guo Chao, Zhang Shancheng (in no particular order).
Subject of This Issue: Persecuted Collective – Beijing Branch of the China Democracy Party (Wang Shi and six others)
Basic Information
Members: Wang Shi (Vice Chairman and Secretary-General), Li Wu, Zhao Qiang, Li Yun, Sun Shuai, Li Fei, Yu Yang.
Date of Birth: The core leadership consists mainly of the “post-70s” and “post-80s” generations.
Native Place: Primarily human rights defenders and citizens from Beijing and surrounding areas.
Occupations: Includes freelancers, activists, independent scholars, and grassroots social activists.
Current Status
On March 31, 2026, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court delivered a formal verdict, handing down heavy sentences to the seven members of this collective on charges of “subversion of state power.” Vice Chairman Wang Shi was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. The remaining six members received sentences ranging from three to seven years of imprisonment or suspended sentences. Currently, all sentenced individuals have been transferred to prison to serve their terms, and the visitation rights of their families are strictly restricted.
I. Collective Biography
The Beijing Branch (also known as the Beijing Chapter) of the China Democracy Party was founded on October 8, 2025. Organized by Chairman Wang Yunpu (currently in exile in the UK) and Vice Chairman Wang Shi, the organization consisted of eight founding members. This represents a rare instance since the 1998 Democracy Party movement of an opposition party branch being openly established in the capital, Beijing. During the founding assembly, the leadership was elected, and the group collectively walked to the vicinity of Sitong Bridge to express their commitment to the cause of democracy.
II. Political Stance
During the founding ceremony, the branch publicly released the Constitution of the China Democracy Party (Provisional), outlining its political program:
Basic Principles: Adherence to a transition path that is “open, rational, peaceful, and non-violent.”
Mission: “Prioritizing the public interest and serving the masses.”
Objectives: Advocating for the construction of China into a modern country characterized by freedom, democracy, social justice, and pluralistic unity through equal competition and cooperation with other political parties within a constitutional framework.
Legal Demands: Calling for an end to the “ban on political parties” (Dangjin) and the realization of genuine judicial independence and protection of basic human rights.
III. Arrest and Sentencing
Arrests: In January 2026, the Domestic Security Department of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau launched a city-wide operation, detaining all seven core members present in the country.
Classification: The case was designated a “major political incident” by the authorities and was directly supervised by the National 610 Office.
Secret Trial: On March 30, 2026, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court held a closed-door hearing. The trial was entirely opaque, and family members were barred from attending.
Sentencing Details:
Wang Shi (Vice Chairman): Sentenced to 7 years and 6 months as the designated core of the organization.
Other Members: Li Wu, Zhao Qiang, Li Yun, Sun Shuai, Li Fei, and Yu Yang were sentenced to terms between 3 and 7 years (prison or probation).
Wanted Status: Chairman Wang Yunpu has been placed on a wanted list for “inciting subversion of state power.”
IV. Social and International Evaluation
Social Evaluation: This event is seen as a significant challenge to the “ban on political parties” by Beijing citizens, demonstrating a fearless spirit in the pursuit of freedom under strict control.
International Evaluation: International human rights organizations believe that this “swift trial and heavy sentencing” represents a systematic purge of citizens’ political rights. Media commentators noted that the case reflects the authorities’ extreme fear of any budding organized dissent.
V. Appeals by “The Opposition” Human Rights Watch Department
Unconditional Release: We call on the authorities to revoke the politically motivated verdicts and immediately release all individuals detained for exercising their right to freedom of association.
Judicial Transparency: We demand the publication of the court verdicts and trial records to ensure the defendants’ legal right to appeal.
Cease Harassment: Stop the surveillance, intimidation, and any form of “collective punishment” (guilt by association) directed at their families within China.
International Accountability: We call on the UN Human Rights Council to address the procedural injustice of the “secret trials” in this case and urge the international community to increase its focus on the persecution of human rights collectives in China.
Bay Area Rally in Solidarity with Gao Fei: Guarding the Bottom Line of Life
Reporter: Guan Yongjie
Editor: Zhong Ran Proofreader: Xiong Bian Translator: Zhou Min
Abstract: A rally was held in the Bay Area to support Gao Fei, calling for a moratorium on non-relative organ transplants. Participants emphasized the principles of voluntariness, transparency, and oversight, questioned institutional opacity and ethical risks, and advocated for the protection of the right to life and medical equity while continuing to promote a joint signature campaign.
On April 12, 2026, the China Democracy and Human Rights Alliance held an event in front of San Jose City Hall titled “Support Chinese Citizen Gao Fei: Prohibit Non-Relative Organ Transplants.” Several pro-democracy activists from the Bay Area participated, engaging in discussions regarding organ transplant ethics, institutional transparency, and the protection of the right to life.
Li Haifeng, the event’s initiator, introduced the theme. He noted that Gao Fei is a civic advocate in mainland China who recently gained attention for launching a public initiative to “suspend non-relative organ transplants.” Gao Fei argues that as long as the voluntariness of organ sources, transparency of allocation, and oversight mechanisms cannot be fully verified, such transplant practices should be suspended. He advocates for the establishment of a traceable and auditable institutional framework. Gao Fei has also launched the “Guarding the Bottom Line of Life” signature campaign and has repeatedly submitted letters to various state organs in China, demanding a response to issues concerning organ transplantation and medical equity.
Zhou Zhigang, one of the event organizers, pointed out that while non-relative organ donations exist in the United States, the key lies in institutional constraints: donations must be entirely voluntary, trading is strictly prohibited, and the process must undergo independent evaluation and ethical review. Furthermore, they must be integrated into a national unified allocation system to ensure full traceability and supervision. He emphasized that Gao Fei’s call for a “moratorium” is not an opposition to medical progress, but rather a demand to clarify the ethical “bottom line” when basic rules are unclear and the public cannot confirm voluntariness or fairness. “Organs can be transplanted,” he noted, “but human dignity can never be replaced.”
Li Haifeng stated that Gao Fei faces extreme risk by offering these suggestions directly within China against the systemic pressure of the regime. He mentioned that the public has long harbored doubts regarding unidentified organ sources, missing persons, and related phenomena; however, information opacity makes it difficult for the public to verify the truth. He emphasized that overseas solidarity has practical significance: it provides a measure of protection for the individual and serves as a voice for families in China. He called on the authorities to face public concerns, respond to the initiative, and eliminate social fear and mistrust.
He Dongling pointed out that once organ transplantation deviates from the two fundamental principles of “voluntariness” and “transparency,” it risks evolving into a violation of the right to life. She argued that non-relative transplants with undisclosed sources inherently constitute an ethical risk. Any approach that ignores the bottom line of humanity in the name of developing medical technology will struggle to gain genuine social recognition. She stressed that institutions must first safeguard basic human dignity rather than solely pursuing efficiency or results.
Yang Kun reflected on his own journey—from initial skepticism regarding “forced organ harvesting” claims to growing doubts in recent years fueled by numerous missing person cases, abnormal physical examinations, and informational opacity. He stated that as more “anomalies” remain unexplained, public anxiety continues to accumulate. In an environment lacking public information and independent supervision, trust is difficult to build. He views the call to “suspend non-relative organ transplants” as a rational inquiry rather than an emotional outburst, believing it is necessary to keep speaking out even if the voice is faint.
During the event, it was reported that as of April 10, 2026, the “Guarding the Bottom Line of Life” joint signature campaign had accumulated 973 signatures. The organizers stated they will continue to submit letters to more institutions and promote the “Life Protection Equality Action Project,” which covers sub-projects such as medical security, fiscal priorities, and organ transplant policies.
The hosts concluded by emphasizing: “Guarding the Bottom Line of Life is not just a periodic action, but a public issue that requires sustained advocacy.”
Why the Chinese Communist Party Is the World’s Largest Terrorist Organization
Author: Lyu Honglai
Editor: Zhang Yu Proofreader: Cheng Xiaoxiao Translator: Zhom Min
Abstract: The author examines the inhumane actions perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against the people over the past century. By analyzing various historical events from multiple perspectives, the author argues that the CCP functions as the world’s largest terrorist organization.
According to Wikipedia, a terrorist organization is defined as a group composed of terrorists that promotes its ideologies and agendas through extreme behaviors. A key characteristic of such groups, as recognized by most nations, is the orchestration of horrific incidents resulting in mass casualties. According to Baidu Baike, terrorist organizations consist of anti-social and anti-human individuals who systematically carry out inhumane and terrifying actions against the public and society.
The CCP: The World’s Preeminent Terrorist Organization
The Chinese Communist Party is the largest terrorist organization in human history. Its scale is unparalleled: it commands over 100 million members, controls 1.4 billion citizens, oversees a multi-million-strong modern military and police force, and monopolizes the political, economic, technological, and military resources of an entire nation. Its sheer power and resources exceed the combined total of all other terrorist organizations in the world.
The evidence identifying the CCP as a global terrorist entity is as follows:
I. Violent Foundations and Ideology From its inception, the CCP’s “genetic code” has been that of a terrorist organization. Adhering to Marxism-Leninism, its stated goal was to use violence, killing, looting, and bloodshed to shatter the so-called “old world,” overthrow existing social systems, and physically liquidate all “reactionaries” to establish a Utopian communist society. These foundational tenets align precisely with standard definitions of terrorism.
II. Early Internal Purges and Cruelty In its early years, the CCP launched violent insurrections, targeting local gentry and seizing land. During its formative stage, the party exterminated the entire family of its own member, Gu Shunzhang. In 1930, during the purge of the “AB Group,” the CCP brutally murdered over 5,000 of its own loyal followers. In 1942, the Yan’an Rectification Movement saw more than 10,000 party members and cadres persecuted to death. This ingrained brutality, even before seizing national power, reveals an inherent “terrorist gene.”
Following its inception, the CCP initiated nationwide insurrections—seizing land, lynching local gentry, and committing countless atrocities.(Internet Image)
III. Post-1949 Mass Executions After seizing the mainland in 1949, the CCP initiated a reign of terror. The “Movement to Suppress Counter-revolutionaries” targeted personnel from the former Republic of China government. Official CCP statistics record over 2.6 million arrests and 712,000 executions. Later internal documents suggested the death toll exceeded 870,000. This mass slaughter of nearly a million lives established a foundation of fear.
IV. The Man-Made Great Famine In the 1960s, the “Great Leap Forward” and the forced collectivization of the People’s Communes, combined with the diversion of resources to nuclear development, triggered a catastrophic man-made famine. To maintain “national face,” the regime refused to open granaries and forbade starving peasants from fleeing. Over 30 million people starved to death—exceeding the population of major developed nations. Instances of cannibalism were reported, marking a nadir of human inhumanity.
V. The Cultural Revolution and Internal Chaos The 1964 “Four Cleans” movement saw over 77,000 driven to death and millions persecuted. This was followed by the ten-year Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), which incited students to violence and led to the unnatural deaths of an estimated 2 to 20 million people. Such a scale of state-sponsored terror is unmatched by any non-state terrorist group.
VI. Decades of Forced Family Planning Starting in the 1970s, the CCP’s mass sterilization and one-child policy resulted in hundreds of millions of forced abortions. Countless near-term infants were killed in the womb, and families were subjected to brutal fines and the destruction of their homes. This systemic assault on human life and bodily autonomy far exceeds the capabilities of conventional terrorist organizations.
Better to have rivers of blood than one unauthorized birth”—A chillingly accurate portrayal of the forced family planning era. (Internet Image)
VII. The Tiananmen Square Massacre and Xinjiang In 1989, the CCP deployed tanks and machine guns against unarmed students and citizens in Tiananmen Square. More recently, the establishment of mass detention camps in Xinjiang for the purpose of ethnic suppression and genocide has further demonstrated a level of totalitarian terror that no other organization can achieve.
VIII. Exporting Revolution and Global Instability Internationally, the CCP has consistently exported violent revolution. It was the primary sponsor of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, which slaughtered one-third of that nation’s population. Today, it sustains the North Korean regime and uses the “Belt and Road Initiative” as a front for expansion. Furthermore, the global flow of illicit precursors for drugs like fentanyl, which kills over 100,000 people annually in the U.S., identifies the CCP as a central pillar of the “Axis of Evil.”
IX. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Laboratory Negligence The COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, resulted in an estimated 15 million deaths globally between 2020 and 2021. Evidence suggests that the outbreak was the result of a leak from a lab researching viruses—not for the benefit of medicine, but for potentially malicious purposes. This level of negligence and subsequent cover-up constitutes a supreme evil.
The leak of the CCP-developed COVID-19 virus caused 15 million deaths in 2020-2021 alone. (Internet Image)
X. Systematic Organ Harvesting Perhaps most heinous is the state-sanctioned practice of forced organ harvesting. From the exploitation of death row inmates to the suspicious disappearance of individuals, the CCP has overseen a lucrative and opaque organ transplant industry. This commodification of human life is a hallmark of an organization devoid of moral restraint.
The Chinese Communist Party and its regime represent a totalitarian entity that persists through the systematic slaughter and persecution of people. Among the world’s terrorist organizations, none have committed crimes of such staggering magnitude or bloodiness. The number of those killed, disappeared, or ruined by the CCP far exceeds the combined casualties inflicted by all other terrorist groups in history.
It is a profound paradox of the modern age that such an organization occupies a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, wielding a veto over international security while tasked with maintaining global peace. The policy of “appeasement” adopted by Western liberal democracies—exporting technology and aiding the economic growth of this regime—has only empowered this malignancy. The time has come for the international community to recognize this reality and bring this era of complicity to a definitive end.
San Francisco Chapter of the China Democracy Party Holds Inaugural Leadership Election to Practice Democratic Mechanisms
Photojournalist: Guan Yongjie
Editor: Zhong Ran Proofreader: Kong Xiangqing Translator: Zhou Min
Summary: The San Francisco Chapter of the China Democracy Party (CDP) held its first leadership election in the Bay Area, producing a new executive team through competitive campaigning and voting. The event attracted participants from various circles, showcasing the organization’s growth and emphasizing the use of institutionalized elections to promote democratic practice and talent cultivation.
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the San Francisco Chapter of the CDP held its inaugural leadership election in San Jose. Party members from across the Bay Area gathered for the event, which also drew non-party observers from local communities and representatives from the Los Angeles Chapter who traveled north to observe and learn. The five-hour assembly included campaign speeches, voting, and ballot counting, resulting in the election of 44 officials: 24 chapter executive positions and 20 chairpersons/vice-chairpersons for 10 local branches.
Although the San Francisco Chapter was established in 2010, it remained small for many years, maintaining a steady membership of about 30 to 40 people. Fang Zheng, Chairman of the San Francisco Chapter, explained that the landscape shifted dramatically in 2020. As the CCP under Xi Jinping’s leadership regressed, an increasing number of people “voted with their feet” to seek freedom abroad. This influx led to a membership surge, reaching over 60 by April 2025.
During an “Integration Meeting” in April 2025, leadership was initially appointed to quickly establish an organizational framework, as many new members did not yet know each other well enough for a mature election. A year later, membership has doubled again to over 120. With established trust and rapport, the chapter transitioned to a competitive election system in 2026 to allow members to represent the will of the rank-and-file and practice democratic rules.
Zheng Yun, Secretary-General of the San Francisco Chapter and moderator of the event, noted that candidates were selected through a mix of recommendations and self-nominations (the latter requiring at least two co-sponsors). The “multi-candidate election” (where there are more candidates than seats) served as a vital step in practicing democratic procedures. Candidates spent two hours delivering speeches, outlining their visions, and making pledges to win support.
Geng Guanjun, an executive member of the CDP National Committee, led a delegation from Los Angeles to observe. “Seeing the cohesion and enthusiasm here in the San Francisco team makes me feel heartened and, frankly, envious,” Geng remarked, noting that the Los Angeles chapter could learn from their organizational spirit. Geng also proposed a motion for a future national chairperson election, suggesting that Fang Zheng lead the party forward.
Additionally, Geng and Yuan Jue promoted the “China Parliament” project, urging attendees to register as voters. He emphasized that the democratic stage should not be a “one-man show” for the CDP alone, but a collaborative effort to unite various organizations.
Chen Chuangchuang, another executive member of the National Committee, joined via video link. He pointed out that the Chinese democracy movement has long suffered from being organized around “personalities rather than institutions.” He argued that the key to resisting totalitarianism lies in institutional strength and international cooperation, rather than merely catering to external pressures to change party charters. He emphasized that while exile organizations require flexibility, they must remain committed to supporting those making sacrifices within China.
According to data provided by the assembly, 45 candidates ran for various positions. A volunteer team of non-party individuals handled the counting and supervision of ballots.
The newly elected leadership includes:
Chairman: Fang Zheng
Vice Chairmen: Hu Pizheng, Zhang Junjie
Secretary-General: Zheng Yun
New Departments: A Women’s Rights Department and a Network Technology Department were added this year.
New Branches: Five new branches were established in Milpitas, Oakland, Newark, San Leandro, and a Special Branch.
The ceremony concluded with four new members—Tang Weifeng, Yuan Qiang, Ding Haifeng, and Xie Zhicheng—taking their induction oaths.
In a closing video call, CDP National Chairman Wang Juntao praised the San Francisco Chapter. He articulated a strategy to push the CCP out of power and establish a constitutional democracy. He described overseas bases as “political laboratories” where members can gain experience in constitutional governance and organizational reform that is currently impossible within China.
New Vice Chairman Zhang Junjie noted that for many participants who are not yet U.S. citizens, this was a rare and tangible opportunity to participate in a democratic system. Chairman Fang Zheng acknowledged that while some parts of the five-hour process were rushed due to logistics, the experience itself provides an invaluable reference for future democratic practice.
Both expressed hope that this transparency would dispel old misunderstandings and attract more people to the cause of a democratic China.
