MCLC: Xia Junfeng's execution day

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: pjmooney <pjmooney at me.com>
Subject: Xia Junfeng's execution day
***********************************************************

Source: Global Voices (9/25/13):
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/09/25/china-finding-light-in-the-darknes
s-on-xia-junfengs-execution-day/

Finding Light in the Darkness on Xia Junfeng's Execution Day
By Olivia Lam

A man is at the gallows, a noose around his neck and his hands tied behind
his back. Below him, a woman and child hold him up so he doesn't hang.
Below them, a tower of people do the same.

The sky is black, but a lone beacon of light shines from afar. Everyone
looks in its direction.

The solemn scene appears in the latest artwork
<http://weibo.com/1421804340/Ab41fDvrl> from a cartoon blogger who goes by
the name “A sad morning dream”, uploaded to popular Chinese microblogging
site Sina Weibo on September 25, 2013. Attached to the cartoon is a very
brief comment: “The God says, let there by light.” The comment is followed
by a crying face.

What does the cartoon mean? September 25 was Xia Junfeng's execution day.

Xia was a laid-off state-owned factory worker who ended up hawking
sausages and kabobs in the street to support the family. In May 2009, Xia
killed two urban management officers during a conflict. He was found
guilty of intentional homicide by the Shenyang Intermediate People's Court
in November 2009. Despite the rigorous appeals made by human right lawyers
against his death sentence and the overwhelming public sympathy for Xia's
self-defense act, China’s Supreme People’s Court upheld Xia's death
penalty and had his execution carried out on September 25. The last
meeting between Xia and his family was very brief and the authority did
not allow Xia to take his last family photo.

For four years, Chinese netizens have been offering both spiritual and
material support to Xia's family and campaigning to defer the execution.
The news about his execution stirred widespread anger. Below are some
initial reactions 
<http://chinachange.org/2013/09/24/china-to-execute-xia-junfeng-wednesday-s
eptember-25/> on Twitter, translated by China Change, a website on Chinese
civil society news and commentary:

@tufuwugan <https://twitter.com/tufuwugan>: Tears came. For the one life
that will soon pass. For the old and the young of his poor family. For
this condemned country. No matter how hard we try, this evil group always
answers us with the most egregious and heartless acts. F*** you!
@wenyunchao <https://twitter.com/wenyunchao>：This evil regime, when
executing a powerless street vendor who merely defended himself, does not
even plan to let him meet with his wife and child for one last time.

@liushui1989 <https://twitter.com/liushui1989>: To kill Xia Junfeng means
that Chengguan, or the government, is digging grave for itself.

On Sina Weibo, because of the heavy censorship measures, netizens’ anger
and sorrow was more subtle. The news spread and netizens put up candles
and crying faces on their status. They quickly got the message behind the
cartoon by “A sad morning dream” and expressed their despair, grievance
and hope in the comment section
<http://weibo.com/1421804340/Ab41fDvrl#_rnd1380100007820>:

康斯坦丁哥哥 <http://weibo.com/2810276934>>：光亮永远没有人民身上散发出来的
多>
“Brother of Constantino”: the light coming from people's bodies is lighter
than the ray coming from afar.

中年格瓦拉  <http://weibo.com/2485619571>：我看到這張圖,眼睛突然發酸…圖裡的人
舉起了雙手 終於撐起了死刑犯 可我們呼喊
了
4年 結果卻是死前連張照片都照不了
“Middle age Che Guevara”: tear comes out when I see this picture… people
raise their hand to support the prisoner condemned to death. We yelled out
for four years, but they did not even [allow the family to] take a photo
before the execution.

Gengsen <http://weibo.com/wbgengsen> 让无力者有力，让悲伤着前行
Gengsen: Let the powerless be powerful, let the sorrowful move on.

陌阡-逝夏 <http://weibo.com/2218589617>：顾城发出呼喊，我们要寻找光明。可我们苦
苦寻觅了几十年。依旧是一片黑暗。原来，不
是没有光明，而是在云端的人，一手遮住了光明
“Summer passing by”: Gu Cheng [a famous Chinese poet] screamed out: We
have to search for the light. We have been searching for it for so many
decades, the darkness still prevails. The light is there, but those
operating in the cloud have covered it up.

乱画的 <http://weibo.com/2937624572>：那束光，是幻觉。。。>
“Doodle”: The ray of light, is illusion…

猪八猫 <http://weibo.com/1401752987>：有的事看似离我们很远，我们可以选择视而不
见。但今天是他，明天也许就是自己，谁也猜不
准那根绳子哪天就套上自己的脖子。有人说就快要有光了。过于乐观了吧？有条件的赶紧
出去吧，没条件的多积点德，祈祷下辈子换个地儿投胎…
“Piggy cat”: Some incidents seem so far away that we can choose to ignore
them. However, we may end up like him. The rope may be around our own neck
one day. Some say there will be light soon. This is too optimistic. If you
have the chance, leave. If you don't have the resources, pray and wish for
a better life after.

战斗指数96 <http://weibo.com/3162379472> <http://weibo.com/3162379472>：这不是
我们要
的！黑暗不散，抗争还在继续
“Battle index 96″: This is not what we want. Fight until the darkness gone.