Xiaolei Wu, a 26-year-old music student from China, has been sentenced to nine months in jail after being found guilty of harassing a pro-democracy activist at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Wu’s threats and intimidation began after the activist, referred to as Zooey, posted pro-democracy fliers on campus.
The harassment campaign, which lasted for two days, involved a series of threats made by Wu through various communication platforms, including WeChat, email, and Instagram. In one instance, Wu explicitly threatened to “chop your b****** hands off” if more fliers were posted. He also claimed to have informed the Chinese public security agency about Zooey’s actions and reported her to his mother, a Chinese government official. Furthermore, he publicly exposed her email address.
Wu was charged with cyberstalking and threatening behavior, and prosecutors sought a nearly three-year sentence to send a strong message to Beijing that the United States would not tolerate attempts by the Chinese government to silence individuals of Chinese descent who hold differing opinions. Judge Denise Casper, however, opted for a nine-month sentence, considering the limited duration of Wu’s harassment campaign and his lack of prior convictions.
Upon completion of his sentence, Wu, who was in the US on a student visa to study jazz, will be deported. In court, he expressed remorse for his “reckless behavior” and apologized to Zooey for making her feel threatened.
This incident highlights growing concerns in North America and Europe regarding China’s influence operations and its attempts to silence critics, not only on university campuses but also in politics. People of Chinese origin who are not Chinese nationals have expressed outrage at Beijing’s efforts to enlist them in “telling China’s story.”
The case serves as a reminder that criminal conduct, particularly conduct aimed at suppressing free speech, will not be tolerated in the United States. Judge Casper emphasized the need to deter similar behavior by other Chinese nationals studying in the US, ensuring they understand the consequences of engaging in such actions.
1 Response
This is absolutely appalling and disgraceful! How can someone be sentenced to just nine months in jail for harassing a pro-democracy activist? It’s a clear violation of human rights and a complete disregard for freedom of expression. This kind of behavior should not be tolerated, especially in an educational institution like Berklee College of Music. It’s disheartening to see that justice has not been served adequately in this case. It sends a dangerous message that harassment and intimidation are acceptable, which is absolutely unacceptable.