Anti-government protests have swept across China over the last few days as anger over the country's strict zero-COVID measures boils over into defiance against the Chinese government's rule.
Nearly three years into the pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping has maintained draconian policies to contain the spread of the virus — including intense lockdowns — but COVID-19 cases have still surged in recent weeks.
Despite the rise in cases, people are starting to speak out publicly against the measures. At one factory, workers even rioted and clashed with security guards.
Tensions erupted after a fire broke out at an apartment building last week in the western Xinjiang region, leaving 10 people dead. Locals allege the strict COVID measures kept people from fleeing the burning building, the BBC reported.
Since the fire, mass protests — which are rare in China — have spread to cities across the country, including Beijing and Shanghai, as people express their anger over the tragedy in Xinjiang and their frustrations with the government.
Some protesters have called for Xi and the Communist Party to be stripped of their power, and have held blank sheets of paper above their heads as a symbol of their defiance.
The protests — while not as intense as the deadly Tiananmen Square rallies — are still the largest since 1989 and photographs show the scale of the demonstrations.