China: Rare protest in Shanghai on June 10

Event

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through a shopping district in Shanghai (Nanjing Road) on Saturday, June 10, in a rare show of public dissent. A dozen protesters were arrested by police, who set up blockades and forcibly dispersed the crowd, reportedly dragging some demonstrators away.

Context

The march was held to denounce recent changes to housing regulations. The Chinese media did not report on the event and all mentions of the protest on social media were censored.

Although unrest remains rare in China, protests increasingly break out over contentions issues such as the construction of garbage incinerators or pollution from coal factories located near residential areas.

Advice

Individuals present in China are advised to avoid all gatherings due to the potential for violence.