Barefoot Lawyer Reports: Recent Episodes
Chen Guangcheng
Join Chinese human rights lawyer and activist Guangcheng Chen, as he tells his story about his escape from China, reports about the tyrannical activities of the Chinese Communist Party, and comments on the blessings of American freedom.
In this third installment of our interview series, Elsa Johnson shares her personal experiences with CCP influence efforts on campus, including academic exchanges and social events designed to sway students’ perspectives.
She emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activities to authorities, highlights the breadth of CCP targeting—from technology and engineering programs to universities nationwide—and stresses the need for Americans to remain vigilant about foreign influence.
Check out Elsa's report in The Stanford Review: https://stanfordreview.org/investigation-uncovering-chinese-academic-espionage-at-stanford/
Check back next week for part 4!
In part two of this interview, Stanford student and Stanford Review managing editor Elsa Johnson continues her story about an unsettling encounter with a man who at first seemed to be a fellow student.
She details how he pressured her to travel to China without proper documents, aggressively pushed her to join WeChat under CCP monitoring, and displayed suspicious knowledge about other Stanford students abroad.
Check out Elsa's report in The Stanford Review: https://stanfordreview.org/investigation-uncovering-chinese-academic-espionage-at-stanford/
Check back next week for part 3!
In this first episode of a four-part series, Dr. William Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights at The Catholic University of America, sits down with Elsa Johnson, a Stanford University student, Managing Editor of The Stanford Review, and President of the Stanford Republican Club.
Elsa shares her eye-opening experience of being approached online by someone connected to the Chinese Communist Party. What began as a seemingly ordinary Instagram message soon revealed deeper attempts at influence and recruitment.
Check out Elsa's report in The Stanford Review: https://stanfordreview.org/investigation-uncovering-chinese-academic-espionage-at-stanford/
Click here for part 2:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wmgtCArzvkYmuQdX0ZpYy?si=eRvWVAC0RTedStxUWgjAKA
The Chinese Communist Party has long paid online commenters in China, known as the “50 Cent Army,” or, "The Five Dimes." to spread propaganda and drown out dissent. But now, they are taking this strategy global.In this episode, Chen Guangcheng discusses how the CCP is expanding its influence by reportedly paying foreign commenters up to $5 per post to attack activists, manipulate public opinion, and interfere in democratic processes abroad.
In this episode Chen Guangcheng tells the story of a 14-year-old girl in Jiangyou, Sichuan Province, whose brutal bullying was caught on video and spread online.
When her father turned to the police for help, they refused to act — and soon after, the girl disappeared.
As the video went viral, thousands of citizens flooded the streets demanding justice, only to be met with crackdowns, arrests, and censorship.
In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Chen Guangcheng exposes the suspicious death of Luo Shuaiyu, a young medical intern in Hunan Province, whose story reveals chilling evidence of forced organ harvesting in China.
After Luo’s death was labeled a “suicide,” his father uncovered thousands of deleted transplant documents, secret recordings of doctors, and a video in which Luo insisted he would never take his own life.
This episode investigates how the CCP covers up organ trafficking, silences families, and profits from corruption at the highest levels of the medical system.
Check out the interview with a survivor of organ harvesting: https://youtu.be/muCNGkJ3GQE
In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng discusses a deadly car attack in Kunming, Yunnan Province, and how the Chinese Communist Party quickly censored the story.
He explains why many in China no longer trust the courts or government to protect their rights, and how censorship fuels desperation and unrest.
In this episode, Chen Guangcheng exposes a new tactic in the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda campaign: AI-generated videos impersonating him. He explains how these fake clips spread quickly online, fueled by suspicious accounts and coordinated comments, and warns about the growing danger of an information war on social media.
The CCP’s efforts to influence American democracy may go deeper than many realize.
This episode discusses new FBI findings alleging that over 20,000 fake IDs were created to interfere in the 2020 election. It also examines the rise of UCA—an American nonprofit with reported ties to Chinese propaganda arms.
With evidence of foreign influence, protest manipulation, and ideological infiltration, there are urgent questions about national security and election integrity that need to be addressed.
In this episode Chen Guangcheng discusses alarming reports from mainland China about human trafficking and forced organ harvesting. In June 2025, three children were found locked in metal cages in a truck in Hainan Province, highlighting a worsening trafficking crisis.
Guangcheng explains how vulnerable groups, including children and religious minorities, are at risk, and how the Chinese government is accused of covering up these disappearances.
As Hong Kong tightens its grip on religious expression, Cardinal Zen continues his ministry under police bail, refusing exile and remaining a symbol of resistance.
Dr. Eric Lai joins William Saunders to discuss the growing threat to religious education, the state's push for ideological conformity, and the quiet heroism of those still fighting for their faith. With new trials looming and freedoms shrinking, solidarity with Hong Kong’s faithful is more urgent than ever.
Dr. Eric Lai is a research fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Asian Law and the author of the forthcoming book Legal Resistance under Authoritarianism: The Struggle for the Rule of Law in Hong Kong. His research explores the intersection of law, politics, and human rights in authoritarian and hybrid regimes, with a focus on Hong Kong. Born and raised in Hong Kong, he has been active in civil society and human rights education since 2010.
Why did Cardinal Joseph Zen return to Hong Kong, knowing he could be imprisoned again?In this episode, Dr. Eric Lai joins Dr. William Saunders to explore Cardinal Zen’s fearless defiance of the CCP and his decision to stand with his people despite growing persecution. Public worship is being silenced, memorials erased, and the Church driven underground — yet Zen refuses to abandon his mission. Even under police watch, he visits prisoners and brings hope to the forgotten.Dr. Eric Lai is a research fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Asian Law and the author of the forthcoming book Legal Resistance under Authoritarianism: The Struggle for the Rule of Law in Hong Kong. His research explores the intersection of law, politics, and human rights in authoritarian and hybrid regimes, with a focus on Hong Kong. Born and raised in Hong Kong, he has been active in civil society and human rights education since 2010.
In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng exposes the Chinese Communist Party’s manipulation of economic data in an effort to maintain its global image. Backed by first hand sources, Guangcheng discusses how the local governments are being instructed to embellish GDP reports, mask rising unemployment, and cover up economic decline following U.S. tariffs.
In this final part of the interview, Mark Clifford and Dr Saunders discuss the erosion of judicial independence in Hong Kong, highlighting the resignation of foreign judges and the manipulation of the legal system to target political dissidents. They discuss the unjust detention of Jimmy Lai and others, such as Chen Guangcheng's friend and human rights lawyer, Gao Zisheng, emphasizing the mockery of the rule of law in the city and the failure of a rule of law model for the mainland.
Despite the bleak situation, Clifford remains hopeful about the future, noting that Hong Kong’s pro-democracy sentiment remains strong. He calls for continued international pressure, urging world leaders to advocate for the release of political prisoners like Jimmy Lai. He notes President Donald Trump has stated his desire to get Jimmy Lai released.
Mark L. Clifford is president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. A longtime Hong Kong resident, he formerly served as editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post and The Standard, and as a board director at Next Digital, the media company founded by Jimmy Lai.
Find more of his work on his website: https://www.markclifford.org/
As tensions rise in the Middle East, a recent U.S. strike against Iran’s nuclear and propaganda infrastructure has sparked surprising reactions inside China.
In this episode, Chen Guangcheng shares how Chinese citizens are responding to the footage—using coded language to bypass censorship and expressing hope that the U.S. might one day take similar action against the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda apparatus.
What happens when a regime exports surveillance, censorship, and repression beyond its borders?
In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng discusses the Chinese Communist Party’s influence on U.S. institutions, the theft of Western technology used to oppress Chinese citizens, and how CCP-affiliated individuals are undermining freedom of speech—even on American campuses.
In part three of an interview with Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, he delves deeper into the story of Jimmy Lai, a prominent media figure and political prisoner, highlighting his courage, the obstacles he faces, and his unwavering commitment to democratic values. Drawing parallels to Natan Sharansky's own experience as a Soviet dissident, Clifford highlights Lai's unyielding spirit in prison and his refusal to submit to Chinese authority.
Mark L. Clifford is president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. A longtime Hong Kong resident, he formerly served as editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post and The Standard, and as a board director at Next Digital, the media company founded by Jimmy Lai.
Find more of his work on his website: https://www.markclifford.org/
In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Dr. William Saunders interviews Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong. Clifford discusses the Chinese Communist Party’s crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy movement, including the arrest of Jimmy Lai and the forced closure of Apple Daily. The conversation highlights how Beijing has dismantled press freedom and silenced dissent in the city.
Mark L. Clifford is president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. A longtime Hong Kong resident, he formerly served as editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post and The Standard, and as a board director at Next Digital, the media company founded by Jimmy Lai.
Find more of his work on his website: https://www.markclifford.org/
In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng reflects on the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre—what led to it, how the Chinese Communist Party crushed the movement, and whether another mass uprising is still possible today.From tanks in the streets of Beijing to the modern surveillance state, this conversation explores the harsh realities of authoritarian rule, the resilience of the Chinese people, and the role the western world must play.
In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Dr. William Saunders interviews Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, about the trial of imprisoned media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai. Clifford discusses Lai’s unwavering defense of universal values despite spending over 1,400 days in solitary confinement under Hong Kong's National Security Law. The conversation highlights Lai’s Catholic faith, his commitment to nonviolence, and the broader implications for freedom and human rights in China.
Mark L. Clifford is president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. A longtime Hong Kong resident, he formerly served as editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post and The Standard, and as a board director at Next Digital, the media company founded by Jimmy Lai.
Find more of his work on his website: https://www.markclifford.org/
The Chinese Communist Party has quietly replaced a detained bishop—and the Vatican seems powerless to stop them. Chen Guangcheng unpacks what we know about the Vatican’s agreement with the CCP and how the Party has consistently ignored it while eroding the rights of Chinese Catholics.With Pope Leo XIV newly elected, many are hoping for a change in course. Will he stand up to the CCP’s growing influence, or continue the path of quiet diplomacy? Guangcheng offers a powerful message to the new pope—and to Chinese Catholics still forced to worship in secret.
In this episode, Chris Mee highlights how Bishop Guo, under intense pressure from the Chinese government to conform to state religious control, gave up his public role in defense of his priests’ spiritual integrity. His story — marked by humility, sacrifice, and quiet resistance — is a stark example of the suffering faced by clergy under China's authoritarian religious policies.
In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Chen Guangcheng discusses the growing unrest and protests occurring across China—why they’re happening, what they mean for China, and how they could impact the rest of the world. These uprisings, combined with pressure from U.S. tariffs, may present a “historic opportunity” to loosen the grip the CCP has long held on the Chinese people.
In this powerful interview, Professor William Saunders (Director of the Center for Human Rights at Catholic University) sits down with Christopher Mee, a first-year law student and former intern at the Hudson Institute. Together, they uncover chilling stories from the new Hudson Institute report, “10 Persecuted Catholic Bishops in China” by Nina Shea.
Chen Guangcheng discusses China’s deepening demographic crisis. From abandoned rural villages to empty city blocks, Guangcheng breaks down how the CCP's past and present population policies have backfired—triggering a potential collapse in China's workforce and long-term economic stability. What is the CCP's plan to address this, and will it affect other countries?
In part two of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Peter Tozzi, the first place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on his essay, “The CCP’s Genocide Against the Uyghurs: Why Americans Should Care”.
In part one of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Peter Tozzi, the first place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on his essay, “The CCP’s Genocide Against the Uyghurs: Why Americans Should Care”.
In this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Sarah Thomas, the second place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on her essay, “The Future of China: Religious Freedom and Ecological Civilization”.
In part two of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Peter James, the second place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on his essay, “China’s Death Camps”
In part one of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Peter James, the second place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on his essay, “China’s Death Camps”.
In part one of this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Dr. Sen Nieh, Fellow at Catholic University's Center for Human Rights, gives an overview of forced organ harvesting in Communist China, an atrocity frequently committed against practitioners of Falun Gong.
In part two of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Jonathan Froelich, the third place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on his essay, “A Practical Plan for Chinese Human Rights Intervention by the United States”. You can read the essay here: https://humanrights.catholic.edu/this-may-sting-a-bit-a-practical-plan-for-chinese-human-rights-intervention-by-the-united-states/
In part one of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Jonathan Froelich, the third place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on his essay, “A Practical Plan for Chinese Human Rights Intervention by the United States”. You can read the essay here: https://humanrights.catholic.edu/this-may-sting-a-bit-a-practical-plan-for-chinese-human-rights-intervention-by-the-united-states/
On September 19, 2024, Chinese human rights activist Yaxue Cao showed her film, The Defenders: 20 Years of Human Rights Lawyers in China, at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. Sponsoring the event was The Center for Human Rights, The Center for Religious Liberty, and The Center for Law and the Human Person. Her film features several prominent human rights lawyers, including Center for Human Rights Fellow Chen Guangcheng. You can watch her film here: https://chinachange.org/2022/03/17/the-defenders-20-years-of-human-rights-lawyers-in-china/
On September 19, 2024, Chinese human rights activist Yaxue Cao showed her film, The Defenders: 20 Years of Human Rights Lawyers in China, at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. Sponsoring the event was The Center for Human Rights, The Center for Religious Liberty, and The Center for Law and the Human Person. Her film features several prominent human rights lawyers, including Center for Human Rights Fellow Chen Guangcheng. You can watch her film here: https://chinachange.org/2022/03/17/the-defenders-20-years-of-human-rights-lawyers-in-china/
In part one of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Dr. William Saunders interviews Father Ambrose Ekeroku, the third place winner of the Center for Human Rights’s annual essay contest, on his essay, “Technology Censorship of Religious Groups in China”. You can read the essay here: https://humanrights.catholic.edu/human-rights-essay-contest/
In part four of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports on the CCP's history of human rights abuses in modern China, Chen Guangcheng discusses Communist China's economic situation in the 1990s, as well as its decades-long infiltration of Hong Kong.Guangcheng's Public discourse article: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2024/07/95522/
In part three of our series covering China's modern human rights atrocities, Chen Guangcheng discusses the origins of Falun Gong, as well as the beginning of the Communist Party's persecution against the spiritual movement.
Liberty Sculpture Park, which is famous for the anti-CCP and pro-democracy sculptures of Chinese artist Chen Weiming, recently suffered a fire that destroyed equipment and art pieces that were in progress. In this podcast, Chen Guangcheng talks about why it is suspected that the Communist Party is behind this - and prior - attacks. Also, Chen Weiming offers his own remarks. We encourage you to listen to the end.Chen Weiming's Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRwHfLXblVY
In part two of this series on post-Tiananmen Square China, Chen Guangcheng talks about resistance to the Communist Party's regime following Tiananmen Square, which came in the form of rival parties and media like Radio Free Asia.
Today marks the seventh anniversary of the disappearance of Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who helped defend Chen Guangcheng when he was imprisoned by the Communist Party. Gao is honored by a sculpture designed by Chen Weiming, a human rights activist and artist who has also been interviewed on our podcast, which you can find in this episode's description. The sculpture hangs in the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of law. In this podcast you will hear from Gao’s wife, Geng He, and Chen Guangcheng.
Read the statements: https://humanrights.catholic.edu/
Chen Weiming's Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfTqEgQKO8g
In the third part of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Father Robert Sirico, interviewed by Dr. William Saunders, talks about how activist Jimmy Lai’s Catholic faith has helped him persevere persecution and imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party.
In part one of this series on post-Tiananmen Square China, Chen Guangcheng details the effect the Tiananmen Square massacre had on human rights, especially human rights activists, in China.
In the second part of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Father Robert Sirico recounts his experience traveling to Hong Kong to witness activist Jimmy Lai’s trial in person.
In the first part of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, Father Robert Sirico talks about the history of his friendship with imprisoned Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai.
In part three of her interview with Dr. William Saunders, activist Frances Hui talks about how Christians and Americans can raise awareness of human rights abuses in Hong Kong and stand up to the Chinese Communist Party.
In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng contrasts America's July 4 Independence day celebrations with those surrounding the Communist Party’s birthday on July 1st.
In part two of her interview with Dr. William Saunders, activist Frances Hui talks about the Chinese Communist Party’s ever-increasing influence on religious freedom in Hong Kong, especially since the passage of the city’s infamous national security law.
In part one of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China interview, activist Frances Hui explains the impacts Hong Kong’s infamous national security law had on freedoms on the city.
As we continue to reflect on the human rights abuses committed in Tiananmen Square, we release our documentary on the universally recognized statement on human rights, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This special documentary features human rights experts, from Dr. William Saunders, to Chen Guangcheng, to Fmr. Ambassador Sam Brownback.
On June 3, 2024, Chen Guangcheng attended and gave a speech at an annual vigil for victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The vigil was hosted by the Victims of Communism Museum and Memorial Foundation. Also in attendance was Dr. William Saunders, Director of Catholic University's Center for Human Rights.
Chen Weiming, whose sculptures have been destroyed by Chinese Communist Party agents in the past, reports another has been vandalized.
In January of 2024, gas and electric companies in China were asked by the Communist Party to change their meters. Since then, it has been discovered that energy companies have been inflating the gas and electric usage of their customers, a practice which they and the government are denying. Chen Guangcheng suspects that this is part of the government's strategy to get more money from its citizens, given China's current economic woes.
In part four of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China episode, Reggie Littlejohn talks about what it was like when Chen Guangcheng first came to America. She also talks about opposition she faced from the Communist Party because of her work.
In part three of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China episode, Reggie Littlejohn talks about how she raised awareness of Chen Guangcheng's imprisonment in Communist China. She also details her reactions to Guangcheng's escape, which she considers miraculous.
Reggie Littlejohn is the founder of Women's Rights without Frontiers. Her actions were instrumental in raising awareness of Chen Guangcheng's imprisonment. In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Reggie explains the origins of her human rights activism of protecting women in China.
William Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights, continues his conversation with Hong Kong legal expert Eric Lai. In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, they discuss the erosion of religious freedom in Hong Kong.
Description: William Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights, talks with Hong Kong legal expert Eric Lai on the country’s infamous national security law that tightened restrictions on free speech and press in 2020.
Since the conclusion of the Chinese Communist Party’s annual convention, there have been several reports of civil disobedience throughout the country. In response to an economic downturn, the Communist Party is attempting to rely on international business investment, particularly from the United States.
Chen Guangcheng, Bill Saunders, and all the Fellows of Catholic University's Center for Human Rights, wish you and your families a blessed Holy Week. This year, please keep all Christians who face oppression across the world in your prayers, and share our Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China series with your families and friends to raise awareness of human rights abuses committed against Christians and all religions in China.
Articles Mentioned:- https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/explosion-fire-in-jiangsu-as-ccp-holds-two-sessions-meetings-5604246?welcomeuser=1- https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/huge-explosion-occurs-outside-beijing-5607762- https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/obstruction-of-state-media-live-broadcast-indication-of-political-turmoil-within-ccp-analysis-5608632Over the course of the last two weeks, during the Chinese Communist Party's annual convention, there have been several reports of bombings carried out against the regime in protest of its rampant authoritarianism. The Communist Party has done everything in its power to suppress photos and videos of these shocking events, which Chen Guangcheng believes he has obtained and shares in this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China.
The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China is proud to announce the publication of a report on Confucius Institutes and the Chinese Communist Party's infiltration of American academic institutions. To read the report, which was published by the Catholic University of America's center for human rights, please visit: https://arts-sciences.catholic.edu/academics/interdisciplinary/human-rights-center/research-and-analyses/index.html
The Communist Party is holding its annual convention, which brings about its "sensitive time." Over the next ten days, at least, human rights activists, lawyers, and artists are displaced from their homes to be under 24/7 surveillance by the police to ensure they do not speak out against the Party. Chen Guangcheng details the nature of this sensitive time.
Censors banned looking up "Shawshank Redemption" when Chen Guangcheng was imprisoned in Communist China. In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Guangcheng talks about the extreme and absurd levels of censorship the Chinese Communist Party engages in when dealing with "sensitive issues."
In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng explains the infamous "709 Crackdown," which marked the beginning of the Chinese Communist Party's widespread persecution against human rights activists.
Xu Zhiyong and Li Qianchu are human rights activists whose relationship has been disrupted by their imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party. Xu Zhiyong has been in jail for several years, and recently Li Qianchu was sentenced to several years in prison. Despite their struggles, the couple remains committed to each other, as well as the fight for human rights in China.
January 23, 2024 marks the United Nations' periodic review of China's human rights. But does this review mean anything substantive will happen to punish the Communist Party for its atrocities? Chen Guangcheng explores this question, as well as ways the United Nations can punish the Communist Party for its crimes against humanity.
Chen Guangcheng discusses the results of Taiwan's elections and their implications for the country's future and independence.
In this interview conducted by Dr. Bill Saunders and Chen Guangcheng, the human rights sculptor Chen Weiming discusses how Chinese spies destoyed his pro-democracy statues in his California park.
Chen Weiming has built several sculptures that promote democracy and oppose authoritarianism in Communist China. The sculptures can be seen in California's Liberty Sculpture Park. Last summer, Chen Guangcheng, along with several other human rights activists, visited the park. In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Guangcheng and Dr. Bill Saunders interview Weiming about his work, as well as the Communist Party's alleged efforts to sabotage his art.
Chen Guangcheng discusses the biggest news stories about the Chinese Communist Party. Links to each story can be found below:-2023 Chinese New Year Protests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VxvT_lalXA-Spy Balloons Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HQQTmoEo9k-Spy Balloons Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OEFi1p7tFM-Xi Jinping's meeting with Putin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9NXTuUAojo-China's Collapsing Economy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D66RCXrl9bk
A new variant of COVID is spreading through China. Western media is taking concern, but how bad really is it? Chen Guangcheng gives some insight from his sources in China.
China's credit rating has just been downgraded to negative. Chen Guangcheng explores why the Chinese economy is not as strong as the Communist Party would lead us to believe. From a failing construction market, to deflation, to the depletion of cheap labor, China's economy is in deep trouble.
Sun Lin, a human rights activist, was allegedly beat to death by police officers in China. The local police claim that the 70-year-old-man put up a fight against them, though they have not allowed his family to view his body and have punished anyone who has attempted to share Lin's story.
During Chinese dictator Xi Jinping's visit to the San Francisco, several pro-Chinese-democracy activists reported harassment and attacks by Chinese Communist Party supporters. In this podcast, Chen Guangcheng talks about Jie Li Jian, who claims he was arrested while trying to defend himself from attackers.
Chen Guangcheng reflects on the blessings of liberty in America and gives warnings about the challenges American Democracy might face in the next year.
Chinese dictator Xi Jinping is visiting San Francisco, California. In response to his visit, several activists, several of whom are Chen Guangcheng's friends, have taken to the streets to protest. The United States government has worked hard to shield Xi from seeing these protests. Chen Guangcheng discusses the situation.
Kay Rubacek is a human rights activist whose books and films raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party's brutality. Rubacek has a vast history of opposing totalitarianism, and she was arrested for holding a pro-peace banner at Tiananmen square. In part one of this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Dr. William Saunders interviews Rubacek.
Kay Rubacek is a human rights activist whose books and films raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party's brutality. Rubacek has a vast history of opposing totalitarianism, and she was arrested for holding a pro-peace banner at Tiananmen square. In part one of this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Dr. William Saunders interviews Rubacek.
Kay Rubacek is a human rights activist whose books and films raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party's brutality. Rubacek has a vast history of opposing totalitarianism, and she was arrested for holding a pro-peace banner at Tiananmen square. In part one of this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Dr. William Saunders interviews Rubacek.
Lu Siwei and Chen Siming are both human rights activists who fled China and sought asylum. While Chen Siming's attempt was succesful, Lu Siwei's was not. In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Chen Guancheng analyzes why this happened, and argues that the United States and the international community should fight for more cases like Siming's.
Aided by the United States, Gloria Chen and her family escaped China, where her now ex-husband was, and still is detained. Dr. William Saunders and Chen Guangcheng interview Gloria, as she gives a great example of how American diplomacy can help human rights activists.
Lu Siwei is a human rights lawyer who attempted to escape to Laos. His lawyer, who possibly has ties to the Communist Party, has stated he was deported to China, but the Laotian government claims he is still in Laos.
Dr. Lee Edwards is the Founder of the Victims of Communism Museum. He is an acclaimed author, researcher, and historian. In this podcast, he discusses the failures of Communism with Dr. Bill Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights at The Catholic University of America.
Li Heping, a Chinese human rights activist, spent one year in prison and looked like he aged twenty years because the brutality of and torture by the Chinese Communist Party.
In Spring 2023, The Catholic University of America’s Center for Human Rights hosted its first-ever Human Rights Essay Contest. The theme was tackling human rights in China. The prompt was: "Explain why Communism is an inadequate system of governance, specifically in Communist China. Cite examples of human rights abuses in China as evidence. Finally, explain why American ideals and institutions may provide a remedy for these problems China faces today." In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Dr. William Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights, interviews Jose Nunes, whose essay, "The Antidote to the CCP Virus," won first place.
Jason Jones is the Founder and President of the Vulnerable People Project, which aims at raising awareness of human rights atrocities across the world and providing aid to those in need. In this podcast, Jason and Dr. Bill Saunders talk about VPP's efforts to free captive bishops in Communist China. To support Jason's efforts in the Hawaii relief effort, click here: https://vulnerablepeopleproject.com/
In Spring 2023, The Catholic University of America’s Center for Human Rights hosted its first-ever Human Rights Essay Contest. The theme was tackling human rights in China. The prompt was: "Explain why Communism is an inadequate system of governance, specifically in Communist China. Cite examples of human rights abuses in China as evidence. Finally, explain why American ideals and institutions may provide a remedy for these problems China faces today." In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Dr. William Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights, interviews Brandon Showalter, whose essay, "Revisiting ‘Centesimus Annus’ and American Ideals Amid the CCP’s Human Rights Atrocities," tied for second place.
"Then, four men with electric shock prods began beating my head and all over my body. Nothing but the noise of the beating and my anxious breathing could be heard. I was beaten so severely that my whole body began uncontrollably shaking. “Don’t pretend to do that!” I was shouted at by a guy whom I later learned was named Wang. Then a very strong and tall (1.9 meters) man grabbed my hair and pulled me up off the ground." These harrowing words are human rights activist Gao Zhisheng's recollections of his kidnapping in 2011. After he published a series of documents highlighting human rights abuses committed by the Communist Party to Western media, the Communist Party began a seemingly endless campaign of violence and intimidation against him and his family. This culminated in his most recent "disappearance," which occurred on August 13, 2017. Since then, nobody knows if he is still alive.
Read Gao's "DARK NIGHT, DARK HOOD AND KIDNAPPING BY DARK MAFIA”: https://chinaaid.org/uncensored-news/stories-by-issue/rule-of-law/night-dark-hood-and-kidnapping-by-dark/
In Spring 2023, The Catholic University of America’s Center for Human Rights hosted its first-ever Human Rights Essay Contest. The theme was tackling human rights in China. The prompt was: "Explain why Communism is an inadequate system of governance, specifically in Communist China. Cite examples of human rights abuses in China as evidence. Finally, explain why American ideals and institutions may provide a remedy for these problems China faces today." In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Dr. William Saunders, Director of the Center for Human Rights, interviews Peter James, whose essay, "The Failure of Communist China," tied for second place.
In July of 2023, a college student in China posted footage of a mouse head he found in his cafeteria food. The local government swiftly insisted it was a duck neck, not a mouse head. They then forced the student to share a video saying it was a duck neck, though a formal investigation revealed that it was, indeed, a mouse head. Since then, the student has not been heard from online, leading many analysts to believe he was detained. This ordeal echoes a famous Chinese story in which a powerful military leader tested the loyalty of his followers by calling a deer a horse; those who agreed with him lived and those who disagreed were executed.
In July of 2023, the Chinese Communist Party arrested a man who built a bridge over a river without the government's blessing. The river had killed several people who tried crossing it, though the Communist Party refused to help the villagers. The man built the bridge himself and was hailed as a hero by his community but was deemed a threat by the Party.
Chen Guangcheng reflects on the one year anniversary of his Bradley Prize. This prestigious award is given to people whose work advances the values of freedom and American excellence.
Link to part one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U1JqLmoSZY
On behalf of the Center for Human Rights, Chen Guangcheng wishes you a happy Independence Day. Today, we encourage you to reflect on the blessings of liberty and democracy, as we continue to fight for human rights around the world, especially in Communist China.
Wang Quanzhang was a victim of the infamous 709 crackdown in 2015. Ever since, he has been harassed by the Communist Party. In the last couple months, he has been evicted 14 times in an effort to relocate his family to a rural part of China. The Communist Party has been trying to force the families of activists to stay away from Beijing, where activists are more connected to Western media, so they can be more closely monitored and persecuted in lesser-exposed parts of China.
We are proud to announce the publication of a research paper from the Center for human rights. It addresses the topic of this podcast, which is the establishment of illegal policing and surveillance stations by the Chinese Communist party in America and other countries. To read this research paper visit https://arts-sciences.catholic.edu/academics/interdisciplinary/human-rights-center/research-and-analyses/index.html
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China is upsetting many Chinese citizens. On account of his visit, the Communist Party displaced and imprisoned many human rights activists. Furthermore, Netizens who hoped for American support are concerned that the Biden administration seemingly prioritized trade over human rights during this visit.
Chen Guangcheng reflects on the one year anniversary of his Bradley Prize. This prestigious award is given to people whose work advances the values of freedom and American excellence.
The Barefoot Lawyer Reports commemorates the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre by launching a series of biographies of human rights activists in China. This week, we feature Hu Jia, a participant at Tiananmen Square whose whistle-blowing activities drew punishment from the Communist Party.
Listen to part 1 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dYyNWXymo4s5xDud5LDpp?si=R-hIeuIERCunvgeb_iaBcg
Bob Fu, Founder and President of China Aid, discusses worsening restrictions on religious freedoms in China, specifically a frightening new law that requires church attenders to be tracked by an app on their phones.
The Barefoot lawyer reports is proud to announce the publication of a research paper from the Center for human rights. It addresses the topic of this podcast, which is the establishment of illegal policing and surveillance stations by the Chinese Communist party in America and other countries. To read this research paper visit https://arts-sciences.catholic.edu/academics/interdisciplinary/human-rights-center/research-and-analyses/index.html
Bob Fu, Founder and President of China Aid, discusses worsening restrictions on religious freedoms in China, specifically a frightening new law that requires church attenders to be tracked by an app on their phones.
A new so-called "anti espionage law" has drastically changed China's definition of spying. Chen Guangcheng believes this has been done for the purpose of targeting critics of the Communist Party, both in mainland China and abroad.
Fang Bin was an early COVID whistleblower who was arrested for leaking pictures and videos he took in Wuhan hospitals at the beginnings of the pandemic. For years, no one knew where Fang Bin was until news recently emerged of his upcoming release.
Ding Jiaxi has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for "subverting authority" in Communist China. Sophie Luo, his wife, speaks out about his imprisonment.https://cua.cascadecms.com/renderfile/4ff24a297f00000103c0dce7576187f0/academics/interdisciplinary/resources-on-xu-zhiyong_2021.12.06.pdf
On March 25, 2023, Center for Human Rights Fellow Chen Guangcheng was invited to attend an anti-Communist Party protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC. Guangcheng brought several other renowned human rights activists with him, including China Aid President Bob Fu and three women whose husbands are currently imprisoned by the Communist Party. Gabrielle Dankanich, organizer of the protest and President of Catholic University of America's Young Americans for Freedom, joins the podcast.
On March 25, 2023, Center for Human Rights Fellow Chen Guangcheng was invited to attend an anti-Communist Party protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC. Guangcheng brought several other renowned human rights activists with him, including China Aid President Bob Fu and three women whose husbands are currently imprisoned by the Communist Party. Gabrielle Dankanich, organizer of the protest and President of Catholic University of America's Young Americans for Freedom, joins the podcast.
Chen Guangcheng talks about Xi Jinping's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the reasoning behind the visit, and how the visit was received by Chinese citizens.
In part one of this Barefoot Lawyer Reports special, Chen Guangcheng tells the story of his daring escape from China.
The Chinese Communist Party has been using various nonprofits as fronts for spies and secret police forces who harass and intimidate human rights activists, ex-Communist Party members, and Chinese immigrants. Chen Guangcheng comments on Representative Mike Gallagher's (WI-8) recent protest outside a Chinese organization that had been recently shut down for funding an underground a Communist force in New York.
The United States Department of Energy has confirmed that the COVID-19 lab leak theory has credence. Chen Guangcheng talks about the dangers of censorship in the media.
Massive protests have erupted in China in response to the Communist Party's reduction of medical insurance for the elderly. Years of spending on COVID-19 and building a surveillance state have depleted funds that were used to aid the elderly and retirees. Meanwhile, more spy balloons have been spotted across America, and the United States government has struggled to respond to the Communist Party.
Chen Guangcheng talks about his advocacy against the one-child policy and how he exposed forced abortions performed by the Chinese Communist Party. This led to his arrest, imprisonment, and escape to the United States embassy.
Chen Guangcheng discusses the latest news surrounding the recently shot down Chinese spy balloon, as well as the tragic story of a high school boy whose organs are suspected to have been harvested by the Chinese Communist Party.
Chen Guangcheng discusses how he became interested in law and started his career in protecting vulnerable populations from the tyranny and exploitation of the Chinese Communist Party.
For the last several years, the Chinese Communist Party has banned fireworks from Chinese New Year's celebrations. Nevertheless, this year hundreds of Chinese citizens lit fireworks in protests. Chen Guangcheng also gives updates regarding several human rights activists he reported on in his public letter to the Communist Party from last year.
On January 15, hundreds of Chinese citizens shouted out their windows in protest of the Communist Party's mishandling of COVID-19. They also commemorated the anniversary of the death of Dr. Li Wenliang, the whistleblower who was persecuted by the government because he warned people of the pandemic in December of 2019.
A new potentially dangerous variant is reportedly spreading across China, right as the Communist Party has decided to re-open the country's borders for international travel. Chen Guangcheng is concerned that the Party has deliberately waited to re-open China's borders to spread this new variant to other countries. He urges Americans to express concern to their representatives about incoming travel from China.
Chen Guangcheng, Dr. Bill Saunders, and Peter Tozzi (former intern at The Heritage Foundation) summarize the recent events and significance of Cardinal Joseph Zen's imprisonment and trial. Cardinal Zen is an advocate of basic freedoms and human rights for Hong Kong and has been the target of harassment and mistreatment from the Chinese Communist Party.
Chen Guangcheng, Dr. Bill Saunders, and all of the Center for Human Rights wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas. We hope that this new year will be filled with blessings for you and change for the Chinese people who remain oppressed by the Communist Party.
To listen to the rest of this podcast, check out the Humanize Today Podcast at https://humanize.today/podcast/chen-guangcheng-on-the-current-tyranny-in-the-peoples-republic-of-china/ The Humanize Today Podcast is produced by the Discovery Institute as a part of its Center on Human Exceptionalism, which is directed by Wesley Smith.
Chen Guangcheng gives background information surrounding the upcoming trial of Hong Kong human rights activist and Apple Daily media founder Jimmy Lai. The trial has been delayed until September 2023, and we encourage our viewers to watch the recently released documentary about him, The Hong Konger: https://thehongkongermovie.com/
Chen Guangcheng discusses the anti-lockdown protestors who demand that Xi Jinping resign.
Communism is perhaps the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. It has murdered more innocent people than any political system in history and has imprisoned millions more. In the last century, it threatened to engulf the world, but even today it controls the world's largest nation and threatens to spread.
Dr. William Saunders of the Catholic University of America Center for Human Rights and Dr. Lee Edwards who founded the Victims of Communism Museum to discussed the lessons we can learn from resistance to communism in the past in order to confront and defeat it in the present. Dr. Lee Edwards is adjunct professor of politics at the Catholic University of America and co-founder of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C.
During the past Communist Party Congress, Xi Jinping, President of China, has tightened his grip over his government by appointing young supporters of his to key positions.
Recently at a protest in Britain, a pro-Hong Kong protestor was allegedly dragged into the Chinese embassy and severely beaten. Chen Guangcheng comments on the implications of this story.
Bob Fu, Founder and President of China Aid, talks about his instrumental role in arranging Chen Guangcheng's escape from the Chinese Communist Party's clutches to the United States.
Bob Fu, Founder and President of China Aid, talks about his instrumental role in arranging Chen Guangcheng's escape from the Chinese Communist Party to the United States.
In preparation for its annual congress, the Chinese Communist Party is arresting and forcibly relocating human rights activists to prevent them from speaking out about human rights abuses and influencing public policy.
China Aid founder Bob Fu joins Chen Guangcheng and Bill Saunders for a conversation about Gao Zhisheng, a prominent human rights lawyer who has been missing for years. He has been subject to extreme torture by the Chinese Communist Party, and China Aid recently held an event to raise awareness of his disappearance.
On January 1, 2022, Chen Guangcheng co-authored a declaration about the Chinese Communist Party's human rights abuses. In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Guangcheng revisits this letter, which you can read here: https://arts-sciences.catholic.edu/academics/interdisciplinary/human-rights-center/initiatives/open-letter2022-new-years-declaration-on-chinas-human-rights-crisis.pdf
On January 1, 2022, Chen Guangcheng co-authored a declaration about the Chinese Communist Party's human rights abuses. In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Guangcheng revisits this letter.
Chen Guangcheng addresses the prospect of a military conflict with China in light of escalating tensions in the region surrounding Taiwan.
Jane Jagas, a graduate of The Catholic University of America's M.A. in Human Rights program, joins Chen Guangcheng and Dr. Bill Saunders for a discussion on forced organ harvesting in Communist China.
Chen Guangcheng talks how he exposed the Chinese Communist Party's forced abortion practices, as well as his role in taking down the One Child Policy.
Chen Guangcheng explains how the Chinese Communist Party's one child policy led to thousands of forced abortions in China.
In an effort to erase the story of human rights activist Chen Guangcheng's daring escape from house arrest, the Chinese Communist Party plans on submerging his village as part of a "water reservoir construction project."
Chen Guangcheng explains the importance of Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and why, despite pressure from the Communist Party, it should not be cancelled.
Part Two of a podcast in which Gillian Richards, a recent alumnus of the Catholic University of America M.A. in Human Rights program, joins Center for Human Rights Fellow Chen Guangcheng and Center for Human Rights Director Bill Saunders for a discussion on religious persecution in China.
Gillian Richards, a recent alumnus of the Catholic University of America, joins Center for Human Rights Fellow Chen Guangcheng and Center for Human Rights Director Bill Saunders for a discussion on religious persecution in China.
In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Chen Guangcheng reflects on the blessings of living in the United States. He also offers insight regarding what he thinks are the greatest threats to Democracy and Liberty.
In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Chen Guangcheng discusses the efficacy of tariffs as a way of weakening the Chinese Communist Party. He argues against the Biden administration's consideration of lifting the Trump-era tariffs.
Chen Guangcheng, Distinguished Senior Fellow at our Center for Human Rights and several prominent human rights activists from across the globe signed letter to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressing their concerns about the Chinese Communist Party's detainment of two prominent activists, Gao Zhisheng and Sun Wenguang.
In this episode of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports podcast, Chen Guangcheng and Dr. Bill Saunders talk about the former's reception of the 2022 Bradley Prize, as well as the imprisoned human rights activist Jimmy Lai's honorary degree recently awarded to him from The Catholic University of America.
Wang Dan, a prominent human rights activist and student leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, talks to Chen Guangcheng Bill Saunders about his experiences at the protests, in which 10,000 people were massacred by the Chinese Communist Party.
Wang Dan, a prominent human rights activist and student leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, talks to Chen Guangcheng Bill Saunders about his experiences at the protests, in which 10,000 people were massacred by the Chinese Communist Party.
Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback talks about religious freedom in China with Chen Guangcheng and Dr. Bill Saunders, director of the Center for Human Rights at The Catholic University of America.
Chen Guangcheng talks about how the Chinese Communist Party is using COVID-19 as an excuse to promote its police state.
In April of 1989, students began protesting for democracy in Tiananmen Square, which ultimately led to the violent massacre of thousands of civilians. In this episode, Chen Guangcheng explains the origins of the protests and calls on Americans to express solidarity with Chinese citizens who stand against the oppression of the Chinese Communist Party.
In the second part of the Barefoot Lawyer Reports podcast on the Falun Gong, Dr. Bill Saunders, Dr. Sen Nieh, and Chen Guangcheng discuss organ harvesting and other human rights abuses against the Falun Gong instigated by the Chinese Communist Party.
On March 14, 2022, human rights activist Jim Li was fatally stabbed by a young Chinese woman who may have ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Chen Guangcheng investigates the situation and offers his analysis.
Chen Guangcheng, Bill Saunders, and Sen Nieh discuss the human rights situation in Hong Kong.
Chen Guangcheng describes how the Chinese Communist Party kidnaps human rights lawyers and activists, including his friend Gao Zhisheng.
Chen Guangcheng explains the origins and purpose of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.
Chen Guangcheng tells the story of his friend, fellow human rights activist Guo Feixiong, who was imprisoned upon requesting that he visit his wife in the United States who was suffering from cancer.
Read the New Year’s Declaration on China’s Human Rights Crisis here: https://arts-sciences.catholic.edu/academics/interdisciplinary/human-rights-center/2022-declaration-on-china/index.html
Purchase The Barefoot Lawyer's biography here: https://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Lawyer-Blind-Justice-Freedom/dp/1250081599
In part four of The Barefoot Lawyer's Journey, Chen Guangcheng talks about his escape from house arrest by the Chinese Communist Party. The Catholic University of America and its Center for Human Rights is honored to support the work of activist Chen Guangcheng, who is a Distinguished Fellow at the University. His is a voice that defines this generation’s fight for human rights throughout the world. Blind from a young age and a self-taught lawyer, Guangcheng has spent his life fighting for the rights of the disabled and marginalized in China. He exposed the atrocity of the Chinese Communist Party’s forced abortions, leading to his captivity. Guangcheng’s cry for justice, after enduring years of brutal torture at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, shocked the world and opened his path for a new life of activism in the haven of the United States, after his harrowing, and miraculous, escape from house arrest. Through the support of the Center for Human Rights, Guangcheng broadcasts his message for justice in both English and Chinese from the heart of Washington, D.C. His gripping story, a true odyssey for justice, is recounted in his memoir.
View his memoir here: https://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Lawyer-Blind-Justice-Freedom/dp/1250081599
Follow him on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/67FdLQPM9FzA2cIO5pdYrx
In part three of The Barefoot Lawyer's Journey, Chen Guangcheng talks about his imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party.
In part two of The Barefoot Lawyer's Journey, Chen Guangcheng speaks about his lawsuits against the Chinese government for discriminating against blind people and the infamous one child policy.
In part one of The Barefoot Lawyer's Journey, Chen Guangcheng speaks about what it was like growing up blind in China and what sparked his interest in law.