Hundreds of people held banners and shouted slogans on the wide steps of the entrance to a branch of China’s central bank in the city of Zhengzhou in Henan province, about 620 kilometers (380 miles) southwest of Beijing. Video taken by a protester shows plainclothes security teams being pelted with water bottles and other objects as they charge into the crowd. Later videos posted on social media showed an unclear number of protesters being pushed forward individually and down the stairs by security teams dressed in plain white or black T-shirts. Calls to Zhengzhou city and Henan province police went unanswered. The protesters are among thousands of customers who opened accounts at six rural banks in Henan and neighboring Anhui province that offered higher interest rates. They later found they could not withdraw their funds following media reports that the head of the banks’ parent company was on the run and wanted for financial crimes. “We came today and wanted to get our savings back, because I have elderly people and children at home, and not being able to withdraw savings has seriously affected my life,” said a woman from Shandong province, who gave only her surname, Zhang. , for fear of retribution. What was a local scandal became a national incident last month due to the misuse of the COVID-19 tracking app. Many who set off for Zhengzhou to demand action from regulators found their health status on the app had turned red, preventing them from traveling. Some reported being questioned by police after checking into their hotel about why they had come to the city. Five Zhengzhou officials were later punished. Protesters gathered before dawn on Sunday in front of the People’s Bank of China building in Zhengzhou. Police vehicles with flashing lights can be seen in video taken in the early hours of the morning. Police closed the road and by 8 a.m. had begun to gather on the other side, Zhang said. In addition to the uniformed police, there were also groups of men in plain t-shirts. A bank regulator and a local government official arrived, but their attempts to speak to the crowd were rebuffed. Zhang and another protester, a Beijing man surnamed Yang, told the AP that the protesters had heard from the officials before and did not believe what they were saying. Yang declined to be identified by his full name, fearing pressure from the authorities. The police then announced to the protesters over a loudspeaker that it was an illegal assembly and that they would be detained and fined if they did not leave. Around 10am, men in T-shirts rushed the crowd and dispersed it. Zhang said she saw women crawling down the stairs of the bank’s entrance. Zhang herself was hit and said she asked the officer, “Why did you hit me?” According to her, he replied: “What’s wrong with hitting you?” Young said he was hit by two security officers, including one who fell down the stairs and mistakenly thought in the chaos that Young had hit or pushed him. “Although repeated protests and demonstrations don’t necessarily have a big impact, I think it’s still helpful if more people get to know us and understand us or sympathize with us,” Yang said. “Every time you do it, you can make a difference. Even if you get hit, they can’t do anything to you, right?’ Protesters were bussed to various locations where Zhang said they were forced to sign a letter guaranteeing they would not gather again. Late Sunday, Henan’s banking regulatory authorities posted a brief notice on their website saying authorities are speeding up verification of customer funds at four of the banks and formulating a plan to resolve the situation to protect rights and interests of the public.
