Worldwide Pillow Fight in Beijing: The Police Came
March 22 was the Worldwide Pillow Fight and yes, Beijing was participating BUT it never happened because dozens of policemen came.
I was one of those few eager pillow fighters who arrived at the venue, The Place Shopping Mall, before 3:00 p.m. While getting off the taxi, a police car arrived and parked next to taxi. I already had a bad feeling about it but, still, I believe that China is now more open than it was before. I mean, it's just a harmless pillow fight. Nothing more, nothing less.
As the number of expats grew, the number of uniformed men scattered in the area grew, too. And yes, police cars were also everywhere.
It was so strange. A young policemen who seemed agitated came up to me and asked what's my proble. It was a really weird question for me who was just standing there holding my pillow. He asked me series of questions like how I did know about the event, what website, how many people are coming, what are we going to do, wha is pillow fight, yada, yada, yada, yada.....
They only told us that "the pillowfight is cancelled." Reasons? They're the only ones who knew. A policewoman said that the organizers should have gotten a permit to do such event because The Place Shopping Mall is a public place. But, when one of us asked her if we can do it in the park, she said MAYBE. So, the park is NOT a public place?
Reasons could be:
1.) Beijing is paranoid.
2.) They think it's a political statement / event. They think this has something to do with Teebet or Taiwan--which is, of course, NOT SO TRUE!
3.) They want publicity or documentation that they are reallyyyyy doing their job. Two cops were videoing the event.
Shanghai did it in their People's Square before and the cops were just there watching. But, of course, we understood why...
Then, the next day, this is the news in the newspaper. Yes, I AM here. They singled out our group out of many who were there.
A student translated this for me and I'm posting it verbatim. Correcting it might cause me a headache.
So, here it goes:
POLICE PERSUADE "THE PILLOWERS" TO LEAVE "PILLOW WAR" CAN'T BEGIN
"Pillows Wars" first landing Beijing plans were failed---Recently, a netizen called the "pillow Wars" posts in various popular websites. However, due to police intervention, "pillows war" has not started.
Yesterday, around 15:00,Nearly 10 police cars parked in the square in front of the shopping mall.Lots of police and security maintained order at the scene,and asked other people to leave.
These people see the "pillow Wars" on the Internet and go to there. However, in these web-sites, there is no mention of the organizers.
The citizen Miss Zhang said:she did not participate in the "pillows war" before,and didn't understand this activity,but she feels this is very stimulating activities,She would also like to participate.
However, this activity ultimately did not start.A Police said : this large-scale activities must be approved by the government. They believe that, too many people caused the accidents easily. They are to consider the safety of the customers.
Although feel regret, but people are with the police, leaving the scene. We still feel: safety first, second game !
I was one of those few eager pillow fighters who arrived at the venue, The Place Shopping Mall, before 3:00 p.m. While getting off the taxi, a police car arrived and parked next to taxi. I already had a bad feeling about it but, still, I believe that China is now more open than it was before. I mean, it's just a harmless pillow fight. Nothing more, nothing less.
As the number of expats grew, the number of uniformed men scattered in the area grew, too. And yes, police cars were also everywhere.
It was so strange. A young policemen who seemed agitated came up to me and asked what's my proble. It was a really weird question for me who was just standing there holding my pillow. He asked me series of questions like how I did know about the event, what website, how many people are coming, what are we going to do, wha is pillow fight, yada, yada, yada, yada.....
They only told us that "the pillowfight is cancelled." Reasons? They're the only ones who knew. A policewoman said that the organizers should have gotten a permit to do such event because The Place Shopping Mall is a public place. But, when one of us asked her if we can do it in the park, she said MAYBE. So, the park is NOT a public place?
Reasons could be:
1.) Beijing is paranoid.
2.) They think it's a political statement / event. They think this has something to do with Teebet or Taiwan--which is, of course, NOT SO TRUE!
3.) They want publicity or documentation that they are reallyyyyy doing their job. Two cops were videoing the event.
Shanghai did it in their People's Square before and the cops were just there watching. But, of course, we understood why...
Then, the next day, this is the news in the newspaper. Yes, I AM here. They singled out our group out of many who were there.
A student translated this for me and I'm posting it verbatim. Correcting it might cause me a headache.
So, here it goes:
POLICE PERSUADE "THE PILLOWERS" TO LEAVE "PILLOW WAR" CAN'T BEGIN
"Pillows Wars" first landing Beijing plans were failed---Recently, a netizen called the "pillow Wars" posts in various popular websites. However, due to police intervention, "pillows war" has not started.
Yesterday, around 15:00,Nearly 10 police cars parked in the square in front of the shopping mall.Lots of police and security maintained order at the scene,and asked other people to leave.
These people see the "pillow Wars" on the Internet and go to there. However, in these web-sites, there is no mention of the organizers.
The citizen Miss Zhang said:she did not participate in the "pillows war" before,and didn't understand this activity,but she feels this is very stimulating activities,She would also like to participate.
However, this activity ultimately did not start.A Police said : this large-scale activities must be approved by the government. They believe that, too many people caused the accidents easily. They are to consider the safety of the customers.
Although feel regret, but people are with the police, leaving the scene. We still feel: safety first, second game !