Two U.S.-based advocacy groups are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the documented cases of harassment, intimidation, and assault against peaceful protesters during CCP leader Xi Jinping’s visit last year. The Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) and Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) have identified CCP-aligned actors responsible for the violence in San Francisco during Xi’s visit in 2023. They found that 19 leaders of CCP’s united front groups were present in San Francisco, with 12 of them allegedly participating in attacks against protesters. These leaders came from various U.S. locations, including New York, California, Portland, Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Philadelphia.
The groups used open-source research and facial recognition technology to identify these actors and have released a report urging the DOJ to investigate whether these united front groups are acting as unregistered foreign agents of the PRC in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. They also called for exploring the potential criminal liabilities of individuals and groups engaged in transnational repression.
During Xi’s visit for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco on November 14 last year, peaceful protesters gathered to demonstrate against the CCP’s human rights violations. However, the protests were disrupted by violence allegedly committed by Xi’s supporters and pro-CCP demonstrators, resulting in 34 documented cases of harassment, intimidation, and assault.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, condemned these attacks as a violation of American sovereignty and values. He called on the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department to hold the perpetrators accountable, emphasizing that such transnational repression has no place in America.
The report also highlights the CCP’s use of united front groups to advance its interests overseas, exerting influence over Chinese diaspora communities and promoting favorable narratives about China. One identified leader, Li Huahong of the Chinese Anti-Cult World Alliance (CACWA), was allegedly involved in attacking Chinese activist Jia Junwei during Xi’s visit. The report details several other instances of violence involving CCP supporters and united front leaders during Xi’s visit.
The advocacy groups are urging the DOJ to investigate these activities and hold accountable those responsible for the attacks on peaceful protesters. The issue that government, local governments, and federal and local law enforcement authorities may need to address is whether CCP united front groups and individuals are potentially acting as unregistered foreign agents, which could be a violation of the law, according to a report by HKDC and SFT.
The report highlighted a lack of protection for protesters in San Francisco against CCP transnational repression. Despite federal awareness of the issue, local authorities in San Francisco were ill-prepared to counter such attacks and often did not respond adequately when alerted to them.
Protesters had to alter their plans multiple times due to safety concerns, such as Tibetan and Uyghur groups canceling a march to the Hyatt Regency on Nov. 15, 2023, out of fear of potential violence.
The report provided recommendations to various government agencies to address CCP’s transnational repression tactics. It suggested imposing targeted sanctions on individuals involved in such activities and providing training on transnational repression to state and local law enforcement.
Additionally, Congress was urged to pass legislation like the Transnational Repression Policy Act, the Stop Transnational Repression Act (H.R.5907), the Combating Transnational Repression Act of 2024 (H.R.7443), the Law Enforcement Support and Transnational Repression Hotline Act (H.R.7433), and the Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Combat Transnational Repression Act (H.R.7439).
H.R.7439, introduced by Rep. Seth Magaziner, would establish a training program for law enforcement agencies to address the threat of transnational repression. The report emphasized the importance of taking action against CCP’s actions to protect advocates for freedom and human rights in various regions.
The Department of Justice has been contacted for a comment on the matter. Could you please rewrite this sentence for me?
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