Human Flower Project
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
China’s Crackdown on Jasmine
In Tunisia, jasmine has been a revolutionary symbol. Chinese authorities are taking a literalist approach.
The child of a flower grower from Daxing, China, snoozes beside pots of contraband
Photo: Sim Chi Yin, The New York Times
HFP applauds Andrew Jacobs and Jonathan Ansfield of the New York Times for following up on a February story out of China: Inspired by Tunisia’s “Jasmine Revolution” dissidents in China then began calling for their own uprising, using the tiny, fragrant white flower as their emblem too.
The Daily Mail and other outlets reported in late February that an anonymous blogger had urged Chinese citizens to take to the streets: “We welcome… laid off workers and victims of forced evictions to participate in demonstrations, shout slogans and seek freedom, democracy and political reform to end ‘one party rule.’”
Internet activists asked protestors to “stroll silently holding a jasmine flower.”