Authorities arrested and federally charged a Chinese citizen with stalking after he allegedly threatened an activist who posted a pro-democracy flyer in the area of the Berklee College of Music’s (BCM) Boston campus.
BCM student Xiaolei Wu, 25, has been accused of sending messages directed at the activist via social media and email multiple times in October after she posted a flyer stating, “Stand with Chinese People,” “We Want Freedom” and “We Want Democracy,” according to the Massachusetts District Attorney’s Office Wednesday press release. Wu allegedly vowed to “chop your bastard hands off” if she posted more, claiming he told China’s public security agency about her actions and the agency would “greet” her family.
#BREAKING PRC citizen arrested for allegedly stalking individual who posted fliers in support of democracy in China on Boston college campus https://t.co/iC91GvwvCj
— U.S. Attorney Massachusetts (@DMAnews1) December 14, 2022
“We allege that Mr. Wu’s threatening and harassing behavior was not free speech. Rather, it was an attempt to silence and intimidate the activist’s expressed views dissenting of the PRC,” U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said. “We believe Mr. Wu stalked, harassed, and reported the victim’s support for democracy to law enforcement in the People’s Republic of China so it would launch an investigation into the victim and her family.” (RELATED: The Pentagon Is Sounding The Alarm On China’s Massive Nuclear Build-Out, But Experts Disagree About How To Respond)
Wu also allegedly sought the activist’s home address and publicly posted her email address to expose her for online abuse from others, the press release reported. He faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Wu is currently suspended from the Berklee College of Music, it told the Daily Caller News Foundation Thursday.
“The described behavior is troubling to Berklee,” the college stated. “We cannot, however, comment on ongoing law enforcement investigations.”
Rollins’ office declined the DCNF’s request for further comment. The FBI said it had “nothing to add” to the press release.
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