American Against kongfu Panda in  Beijing !

                                      By Tim Lies/Li Xiao Long

BEIJING--We boycotted the Hollywood kongfu Panda tonight at Hua Xing in haidian District.  Many gathered to gain literature, take photos, and ask questions.  I am an American teacher at Peking University, and I call on all China to boycott Hollywood movies.  Tonight I held a picket sign and passed out back-and-front translated leaflets.

After 15 minutes, the cinema owner and manager forced us off the property, and our protest continued on the street corner.  Many more gathered to read our handout paper explaining the reasons for the boycott.  I gave out nearly 300 in five minutes!  The owner called the police. 

A middle-aged man asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"First let's follow the RMB path," I said.  "Dreamworks made the film.  That means the money flows into the pockets of those who hate us and are out to destroy us.  And it targets our children...."

I explained further our reasons outlined on the handout.  A foreigner and his Chinese friend stopped on their bicycles.

"Aren't you afraid the police might bust you?" he said.

"Well, I don't know," I said. "Maybe, I'm the first to do this in China."

"Of course, what you're doing is pro China?

"Pro China all the way!"

"Can I take a picture of you?"

As he reached for his camera, the police arrived.  The main officer gently took my picket sign.  There was one undercover cop and three in uniform.  The foreigner never took the picture.

The main officer and a few others guided us across the street.  They examined my passport and my translator's I.D.  For a moment, I thought--there goes my wonderful life in China.

Luckly, the cops were cool.  The main officer walked away and read the one page.  He came back, and I talked to an English speaking officer on the cop's phone.  He explained to me that we can not protest in a public area.

"He's on your side," my translator said.

He gave us back our I.D.s.  Then the main officer gave me the thumbs up.  He even gave back our picket.  The police had detained us for 15 minutes.

My translator and I hustled over the bridge.

Why did we do this?

First, I wanted to protest on Monday.  I'm so incensed Hollywood is doing this to us.  Not just this movie, but over and over again.  We'll be braindead before the next generation speaks.  I felt alone.  We were alone.  Many people criticized our blog entrees.  Many also agreed with us.

Yesterday, we met with Zhao Bandi and his assistant, Mozart.  We had read about Zhao's protest and contacted his blog in support.  He called us, and we met at Vurdues restaurant near 798.  After speaking with Zhao, I knew I had to do this protest.  He loves his country, and he loves the panda.

A Chinese artist against the panda movie.  An American against Hollywood.  All we ask is for you to think!