A video of a 14-year-old girl being assaulted by a group of teenagers has triggered unusual protests in the city of Jiangyou, in south-west China. The attack, which occurred on 22 July and was posted online on 2 August, showed the victim being kicked, slapped and mocked in an abandoned building. Police said she suffered minor injuries to her scalp and knees.
The footage went viral locally, leading to a protest on Monday evening that drew hundreds, possibly up to 1,000 people. Witnesses reported clashes with police, including an officer hitting a person on the ground and a man being dragged away by riot officers. Protesters chanted slogans such as 'Give us back democracy, reject bullying, serve the people' and sang the national anthem.
Police arrested three alleged bullies, aged 13, 14 and 15, and said the two older girls would be sent to 'specialised schools for correctional education'. However, many residents felt the punishment was too lenient, especially after rumours surfaced that one of the bullies had been seen playing billiards instead of being in the correctional centre.
The victim's parents were seen kowtowing to a local official in a government office, begging for justice. A crowd gathered, and the protest escalated when police removed barricades around 11.30pm on Monday. At least eight people were arrested, according to an eyewitness. The witness said police used batons, adding: 'Now people will definitely hate violent law enforcement.'
School bullying is a sensitive issue in China, with many feeling authorities do not do enough. In 2023, thousands protested in Henan after the death of a 14-year-old boy under suspicious circumstances. Kevin Slaten of China Dissent Monitor said the Jiangyou protests reflect a 'lack of trust at the local level' in how such cases are handled. The Jiangyou police department did not respond to requests for comment.
