A teenage bullying incident in the city of Jiangyou, Sichuan province, escalated into large-scale protests and violent clashes with police, highlighting deep-seated frustrations over the handling of such cases and a lack of trust in local authorities.
The trouble began on 22 July when a group of teenage girls attacked a 14-year-old in an abandoned building, causing minor injuries. A video of the incident went viral on 2 August, leading to public outrage. Local police apprehended three alleged bullies aged 13, 14, and 15, with the two older girls sent to correctional education. However, many residents deemed the punishment too lenient.
On the evening of 5 August, hundreds, possibly up to 1,000, gathered outside the Jiangyou city government building. Protesters chanted 'Give us back democracy, reject bullying, serve the people' and sang the national anthem. One witness reported seeing at least eight people arrested and police using batons. In a verified video, a man intervening to protect an elderly woman arguing with officers was grabbed, put in a headlock, and dragged away. Another clip shows a riot officer striking a person pinned to the ground.
The protests reflect broader concerns about school bullying in China and perceived injustice. 'There's a lack of trust at the local level in the way these cases are handled,' said Kevin Slaten of China Dissent Monitor. The anger was fuelled by rumours that one of the bullies had been seen playing billiards instead of being in correctional education. The Jiangyou police did not respond to requests for comment.
