Protesting Shanghai merchants beaten, arrested during market demolition

Recently, the Shanghai city government decided to demolish the Tongfu Yijiali International Stone City market in Fengxian District. Merchants began protests. In late May they raised banners saying: “The government has political power, but it shouldn’t be capricious in its decision making.”

Netizen “MC Ah-Tan” said: “Major city Shangai forcibly demolished the Stone City market, resulting in 100 merchants losing their livelihoods and more than 1,000 workers losing their jobs.”

On the morning of Tuesday June 16, 2015, about 500 police officers and other government personnel began demolishing Stone City. A large number of merchants carrying protest banners tried to obstruct them. Many merchants were injured and more than 30 arrested.

Eyewitness Ah-Wu said: “Tongfu Yijiali International Stone City on Daye Road in Shanghai’s Fengxian District was forcibly demolished by the government, resulting in great economic loss to the proprietors. The police beat and arrested people. It’s too cruel.”

Eyewitness “Vicky” said: “The police beat and forcibly detained us merchants. Many were injured and scores arrested.”

Eyewitness netizen “Smiling Eyes” said: “They were worse than beasts! They even hit women!”

Many netizens uploaded photographs and video of the crackdown onto the Internet, but most were deleted.