January 17, 2025
Berklee pupil from China convicted of harassing particular person over democracy leaflet

Politics

FILE – The Berklee School of Music signal is seen on a podium, Nov. 6, 2013, in Boston. A citizen of China who’s a pupil on the Berklee School of Music was convicted Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, of threatening an individual who posted a flyer in help of democracy in China, authorities stated. AP Picture/Michael Dwyer, File

BOSTON (AP) — A citizen of China who’s a pupil on the Berklee School of Music was convicted Thursday of threatening an individual who posted a flyer in help of democracy within the Asian nation, authorities stated.

The flyer that was posted close to the Berklee School of Music campus in Boston on Oct. 22 learn, “Stand with Chinese language Folks,” and different statements together with, “We Need Freedom” and “We Need Democracy,” the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace in Boston stated in a information launch. In response, Xiaolei Wu, 26, threatened to cut off the particular person’s palms; reported their household to China’s public safety company; requested others to search out out the place the particular person was residing, and publicly posted the particular person’s e mail handle, the discharge stated.

The one that posted the flyer is a everlasting U.S. resident initially from China who has members of the family nonetheless residing there, the Legal professional’s Workplace stated.

Wu was convicted of 1 rely of stalking and one rely of interstate transmissions of threatening communication. Every cost carries a sentence of as much as 5 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and a wonderful of as much as $250,000.

Wu’s lawyer didn’t reply to an e mail requesting remark.

“Nobody on this nation ought to ever be subjected to threats of violence or a cyberstalking harassment marketing campaign for expressing their political beliefs,” Performing United States Legal professional Joshua S. Levy stated in an announcement. “Mr. Wu now stands as a convicted felon for his unlawful efforts to suppress speech by a fellow Berklee Faculty of Music pupil who was important of the federal government of China. This kind of conduct won’t ever be tolerated.”