Chinese National Sentenced by US Court for Intimidating Pro-Democracy Advocate
Xiaolei Wu convicted for retaliating against a pro-democracy advocate by informing Chinese authorities about their activism near Berklee College of Music.
A Chinese citizen, Xiaolei Wu, 26, who studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, has been sentenced to nine months in prison and three years of supervised release for threatening and harassing an individual advocating for democracy in China. The US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts announced this on Wednesday. Wu was found guilty in January of cyberstalking and sending threatening messages across state lines, according to prosecutors.
CNN has contacted the Federal Public Defender Office in Massachusetts, who is representing Wu, for a statement.
Wu is no longer a student at Berklee College of Music, according to the school's statement to CNN on Wednesday. He was suspended from the school following the incident in 2022.
Wu allegedly sent threatening messages to someone who supported Chinese democracy by posting a flier near the college campus. According to the complaint, CNN had previously reported on this incident.
Reportedly, on WeChat, a Chinese messaging app, Wu stated, "If you post more, I will chop your hands off."
Wu is accused of reporting the individual to the Chinese government and informing them that their family members would be contacted.
Additionally, Wu allegedly asked others to locate the person's residence and shared their email address online, hoping that they would face harassment.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy described Wu's actions as extremely serious.
Levy stated, "Wu used the fear of possible retaliation from the Chinese government to intimidate and blackmail an innocent person who had shared a harmless, pro-democracy poster at Berklee."
Mr. Wu successfully scared the brave victim and others from speaking out against the PRC government with his violent threats.
Our office and the Department of Justice are committed to protecting people's First Amendment rights. We will not allow anyone to intimidate or threaten others to silence them. Censorship and repression will not be accepted in our society.
Editor's P/S:
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