Why A4 sheets of paper have become the symbol of Chinese protesters' dissent against Covid

Students have stormed top universities holding blank sheets of paper aloft in a rare silent protest to escape censorship or censorship. 'arrest at the hands of the extremist Chinese regime A woman is holding a blank sheet of A4 paper (

Image: Getty Images)

Chinese protesters use blank sheets of A4 paper to express their fury over Covid-19 restrictions.

In a rare wave of widespread dissent that went beyond social media, people took to the streets and rallied outside some of China's top universities.

Images and videos circulating online show university students in cities like Nanjing and Beijing holding up blank sheets of paper in silent protest, a tactic used in part to evade censorship or scrutiny. arrest.

China is sticking to its strict zero-COVID policy even as much of the world tries to coexist with the coronavirus.

The latest wave of anger was sparked by an apartment fire that killed 10 people on Thursday in Urumqi, a far western city where some people had been locked up for 100 days, fueling speculation that the measures COVID lockdown may have impeded resident escape.

(

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

In Shanghai, a crowd that began gathering late Saturday to hold a candlelight vigil for Urumqi victims held up blank sheets of paper, witnesses said.

Similar sheets of paper could be seen held by people at separate Sunday gatherings on the grounds of Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University and along the Chinese capital's 3rd Ring Road near the Liangma River.

“The white paper represents everything we want to say but cannot say,” said Johnny, 26, who attended one of the Liangma River rallies.

“I came here to pay my respects to the victims of the fire. I really hope that we can see the end of all these COVID measures. We want to return to normal life. We want to have dignity.”< /p >