China: MeToo Journalist Is On Trial For “Subversion”

If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The trial of a Chinese journalist and her labor rights activist ally is again laying bare China’s increasingly oppressive statute on civil society. Huang Xueqin, at one time an influential figure in the Chinese #MeToo movement, and Wang Jianbing, her ally, were apprehended by the authorities in September 2021. Over six months later, both now find themselves grappling with charges of “inciting subversion of state power.” The muddled legal terms underlying their charges make evident the continual tendency in recent years for Beijing to repress outspoken critics of societal issues in the nation. Huang rose to recognition early in 2018 for her endeavors towards encouraging victims of sexual harassment to break their silence. Her creation of a social media outlet for reporting such cases of alleged misconduct further highlighted the abiding issue in universities and offices alike. Following her detainment in 2021 – not her first brush with the law – she delivered a handwritten testimony, affirming that “Being a journalist is not a crime,” the Times reports. Her ally, Wang, demonstrated a commitment not only to the rights of the disabled but also laborers. He also stood as an advocate for the #MeToo community, providing a platform for harassment victims to come forward. However, their bold stance led to severe reprisal from the authorities. In pillorying such advocates of change, Beijing has moved to silence critics and handcuff free speech, expanding their reign…China: MeToo Journalist Is On Trial For “Subversion”