Massive COVID protests erupt in China’s Xinjiang region following a deadly fire

Protests erupted in China’s far western Xinjiang region, with crowds yelling at hazmat-suited guards after a deadly fire sparked outrage over their prolonged COVID-19 lockdown, as nationwide infections reached a new high.

According to videos circulated on Chinese social media on Friday night, crowds chanted “End the lockdown!” while pumping their fists in the air as they walked down a street.

People in a plaza were seen singing China’s national anthem, with the lyric “Rise up, those who refuse to be slaves!” while others shouted for their release from lockdowns.

China has imposed some of the country’s longest lockdowns, with many of Urumqi’s 4 million residents barred from leaving their homes for up to 100 days. Each of the last two days, the city reported about 100 new cases.