A recent graduate of Cornell University was reportedly attacked “while putting up pro-democracy posters” at the Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall in downtown Ithaca, New York.
What’s not in the headline is that the recent graduate is from Hong Kong, the alleged attacker spoke Mandarin during the assault, and the posters said, “Free Hong Kong and Free Uyghurs”:
BREAKING: Recent #Cornell graduate allegedly attacked while putting up pro-democracy postershttps://t.co/u7tiXgHx16
— The Cornell Review (@cornellreview) June 9, 2022
The student, Kinen Kao ‘22, posted videos of the alleged assault to the university’s Society for the Promotion of East Asian Liberty Instagram account:
“Just now (around June 8 18:30), I was assaulted by a man in the Ithaca Commons, who tore down my Free Hong Kong and Free Uyghurs posters before pushing me to the floor, leaving wounds on my left hand.
I was putting up posters about Free Hong Kong and Free Uyghurs, when he came to tear down my posters and aggressively walked towards me shouting in Mandarin “你再貼？” (“you put up more?”) When I took out my phone to record the scene, he pushed me to the floor and tried to snatch away my phone, which I managed to keep hold of. He only released me after another man came over. After I walked away, he continued tearing down more of my posters.”
Here’s one of the videos:
And here’s another clip that shows the alleged attacker. That he’s wearing a Cal Berkeley hoodie is a nice touch:
Just now: A Mandarin-speaking man attacked a Hong Kong student at @Cornell for putting up posters supporting freedom of #HongKong and #Uyghurs. This man's action & any kind of Chinese aggression against #Hongkongers should never be acceptable. Here's what happened: pic.twitter.com/A5XIDyGK7O
— Frances Hui 許穎婷 (@frances_hui) June 8, 2022
From Kao’s account of what happened:
Around 18:30, as a Cornell student was putting "#FreeHongKong" & "#FreeUyghurs" posters up in Ithanca Commons near Cornell, a man approached to threaten him in Mandarin. The student immediately recorded the scene with his phone. (2/) @SPEAL_Cornell
— Frances Hui 許穎婷 (@frances_hui) June 8, 2022
The man then pushed him to the ground and tried to snatch his phone away, leaving wounds on his hand. The assault only ended as another passerby interrupted. (3/) @SPEAL_Cornell @students4hk pic.twitter.com/tvEPpas7bs
— Frances Hui 許穎婷 (@frances_hui) June 8, 2022
This alleged attack comes just days after a memorial to Tiananmen Square was vandalized at U.C. San Diego:
Another troubling incident against students speaking out about China on campus, just days after a Tiananmen memorial was vandalized at UC San Diego. https://t.co/wuDOLhJtkU
— Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahemclaugh) June 8, 2022
And let’s not forget what happened in California in May:
UPDATE: Orange County church shooter reportedly a 68-year-old Asian man from Las Vegas, victims 'mostly Asian and mostly of Taiwanese descent' https://t.co/ZLwJ78ERxB
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 15, 2022
Cornell had been under fire for its partnership with China:
Cornell has also been home to extensive campus pushback in the past couple years over a new dual degree program in China, which the administration went forward with despite widespread opposition among faculty and students: https://t.co/pGKWHZYGNE
— Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahemclaugh) June 8, 2022
You think?
More details on the alleged attack against an activist and recent graduate posting Free Hong Kong and Free Uyghurs posters on Cornell’s campus.
“He believes this incident will demonstrate how freedom of speech can be suppressed beyond China’s borders.” https://t.co/OLDUDDIkZa
— Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahemclaugh) June 9, 2022
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