Wenyi Wang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Doctor Wang Wenyi (Chinese: 王文怡; pinyin: Wáng Wényí; born October 26, 1958 in Jilin) is a pathologist[1] and journalist for the Falun Gong-affiliated newspaper The Epoch Times. Wang Wenyi is a Chinese national who has lived in the United States for 20 years of her life. Wang was trained in China as a medical doctor, holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Chicago[2], and recently completed her residency as a pathologist at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital.[1]
On April 20, 2006, during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States, she got a valid journalist pass that gave her access to the ceremony and loudly shouted for about 45 seconds during a speech given by Mr. Hu [3].
Her shouts in Chinese and English were also directed toward American President George W. Bush with comments such as "President Bush, stop him from killing" and "President Bush, stop him from persecuting the Falun Gong." Chinese audiences in mainland China will not see images of Wang Wenyi's protest through their state-run TV. According to the AFP, “CNN television said Chinese authorities blocked the transmission of its pictures of the protest in China.”[4]
"Wang is a naturalized U.S. citizen who works as a journalist for the Epoch Times." according to CNN [3]. Her U.S. citizenship was approved according to a CNN's interview with her. [5] She has multiple roles as shown in archived newspaper articles: Epoch Times Vice President according to an article in September 2005 [6]; Medical Professionals according to an article in April 2006 [7], Chief Editor of Medical Life Journal according to an interview by John Batchelor in April 2006 [8] and a mother of two[9].
"Wang helped research the recent Epoch Times articles on organ harvesting [1] and was "very overstressed"," The Epoch Times spokewoman Terry Wu said, "When she saw Bush shake the hand of the Chinese leader, she felt obligated to speak out".[10]
On April 21, 2006, Wang Wenyi was charged in federal court with a misdemeanor of willfully intimidating, coercing, threatening and harassing a foreign official. After waiting overnight in jail, Wang was formally charged with "knowingly and willfully intimidating, coercing, threatening or harassing … a foreign official performing his duties," a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of $5,000.[1]
Then Wang read a prepared statement to reporters. "What I did was say just a few words at a moment in history. It was an act of conscience and an act of civil disobedience."[2] "I've devoted much of my time trying to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China, especially the harvesting of organs," she said[1]. She could not work in China since her entry to China was denied even when her father living in China passed away in 2005.[5] She was released without bail pending further proceedings.[11]
She was charged with disorderly conduct [1]. The Epoch Times is known to use such language to describe Chinese government officials[citation needed], and called for the overthrow of the Chinese communist government via its "Resign from CCP" campaign [12]. But Wang's defense attorney, John Bos pointed that "Before the Secret Service escorted Wang from the media platform, a cameraman pulled the banner from her hands and tried to quiet her by placing his hands on her mouth. Bos said that, rather than Wang's shouts, could have caused Hu to pause in his remarks."[1]
In 2001, she penetrated a security cordon in Malta during a visit of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and got into an argument with him.[1]
On June 21, 2006, the U.S. Court in Washington D.C. cancelled the charge on Dr. Wang. [13] "Today is not the important thing," Wang said. "The important thing is all the Falun Gong practitioners who are losing their lives."
On July 5, 2006, Dr. Wang announced to international media at the National Press Club that she will prosecute the reporter who attacked her body.[citation needed] "The civilized world must shout to China," Wang said, with two recently imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners Ming Zhao from Ireland and the United States citizen Charles Li by her side[14].
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g "China and Its President Greeted by a Host of Indignities", Dana Milbank, The Washington Post, Friday, April 21, 2006; Page A02
- ^ a b Z. Byron Wolf. "Heckler Charged With harassing Chinese President", ABC News International. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ a b "Protester charged with Harassing Chinese leader", CNN. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ "Bush says sorry after protester heckles Chinese president", Yahoo News. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ a b "Video interview", CNN. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ "Public Announcement of Denial of Media Credentials for Seattle Leg of Hu's Visit", The Epoch Times. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ "Medical Professionals: China Has a Very Large Reserve of Organs from Living People", The Epoch Times. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ The John Batchelor Show. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ Harvesting the truth. Ventura County Reporter. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
- ^ "Falun Gong Activist Defiant After Arrest", Washington Post. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ "White House heckler charged", Aljazeera. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ "Quitting the CCP", The Epoch Times. Retrieved on 2006-05-20.
- ^ "Chinese President Critic's Charges To Be Dumped", All Headline News. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
- ^ "China accused of secret organ harvesting", United Press International, Inc. Retrieved on 2006-07-08.
[edit] External links
- Why Wang Wenyi Was Shouting
- Christian Wire Service: Christian Leaders to Stand in Solidarity with Religious Rights Activist Dr. Wenyi Wang at White House Demonstration Calling for Charges Against her to be Dropped, May 1, 2006
- China Support Network´s legal argument in support of Dr. Wang
- Free Wenyi
- Statement by Dr. Wenyi Wang on why she protested at the White House, April 24, 2006
- Dr. Wang Wenyi, Chief Editor of Medical Life Journal and Member of the Falun Gong. Interviewed by John Batchelor
- Christian Wire Service - Christian Defense Coalition Disappointed by President Bush's Apology to Chinese President after Demonstration at the White House
- CNN - Protester charged with harassing Chinese leader
- Malaya - RP kinder than the US
- The Washington Times - Nobles and knaves
- The Washington Post - Overreacting to Protest : Wenyi Wang doesn't belong in jail.
- New York Post - A Fine Protest
- Falun Gong Activist Defiant After Arrest
- Bush apologizes to Hu for protester
- A sour start for Hu visit
- BBC article
- BBC article - US protocol crumbles on Hu visit
- Associated Press: Woman Charged in Protest Against Hu
- "China harvesting inmates' organs" By Bill Gertz, The Washingtom Times, March 24, 2006
- "A Place Called Sujiatun,Are they killing Falun Gong, for their organs?" By Jay Nordlinger, National Review, March 30, 2006
- The Epoch Times: Chinese Consulate Denies Doctor's Passport
- Public Announcement of Denial of Media Credentials for Seattle Leg of Hu's Visit
- Chinese Consulate Rejects Reporter's Visa Application
- US State Department's investigation of the concentration camp allegation
- [rtsp://video.c-span.org/15days/wj042206_zhang.rm C-SPAN interview with Erping Zhang, Spokesperson, Falun Gong, April 22, 2006]