Why Protests Over Chinese Teen Bullying Case Escalated

Protesters likely making broad demand for justice and fair treatment, say observers

- Chris Buckley and Amy Chang Chien

BEIJING — A widely shared video clip of a 14-year-old girl being beaten, kicked and tormented by other teenagers set off large protests in southwestern China, with hundreds of residents accusing officials of letting the perpetrators off too lightly.

What began as a local outcry over school bullying in the city of Jiangyou, in Sichuan province, escalated into a broader confrontation with the authorities.

The police responded to the rallies with a forceful crackdown late on Aug. 4, captured by residents in photos and footage.

Residents had demanded justice for the bullying victim and protested against the police's use of heavy-handed tactics, saying it was suffocating their right to voice grievances.

"No to bullying," residents chanted as rows of police officers stood nearby, according to one video that was shared widely on social media.

"Give us back democracy," they also shouted.

The footage of the tense standoffs with the police also spread across China, where large protests are somewhat rare, before they were removed from social media.

The viral clip of the bullying showed the assailants taking the 14-year-old to an empty, unfinished building where they kicked, slapped and pummeled her as she knelt. The video prompted widespread outrage online, where many expressed concern about bullying and the need for accountability.