An incident occurred on Monday at the Wimbledon 2022 where security guards stopped and searched four activists wearing ‘Where is Peng Shuai’ T-shirts now
The four activists were asked by the security to stop and had all of their bags checked to put off any suspicions of protests.
Where Is Peng Shuai Now T Shirt Wearing Activists Stopped From Entering Wimbledon 2022 As China Remains On ATP Schedule
Who is Peng Shuai?
Good to see a small group of activists here at #Wimbledon today wearing "Where is Peng Shuai?" t-shirts.
There has been only silence since Peng was trotted out as a prop for the Olympics in February.
Questions remain, and China remains on the ATP's 2022 schedule.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2022
The three chaps wearing the "Where is Peng Shuai" shirts being interviewed by a journalist.
The one on the far right told me they'd had their stuff searched by security. But certainly not stopped from roaming the grounds. pic.twitter.com/wsI1mF3WBp
— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) July 4, 2022
Peng Shuai is a Chinese-born retired professional tennis player. The player accused a former high-ranking member of China’s reigning Communist Party of sexual assault just last year. Ever since the incident, Peng has barely made any public appearances.
A similar incident occurred at this year’s Australian Open in Melbourne. Security initially removed a person wearing a T-shirt supporting Peng from the area. However, the action was later reconsidered and officials allowed spectators to wear the said clothes as long as they did not gather in large groups and engage in uncomfortable activities for other fans.
Words form one of the activists
Jason Leith, one of the four activists, who is also from the Free Tibet organization, said he and his three colleagues put on the white T-shirts.
Later, when security officials arrived, the four men were walking below Henman Hill, under the big screen.
Leith, “(They) started asking, ‘Are you planning to do any direct protest? Are you planning on disrupting things? ” Oh, do you mind coming over here so we can search your bags?‘
These lines clearly show how confused Leith and his colleagues were about the situation.
Leith added that the tournament organisers allowed them to remain on the court and wear their shirts with the condition that they speak to no one about Peng.
The strange case of Peng Shui
Wimbledon organisers tried to clarify that the activists were welcome at the tournament venue. Sally Bolton, the All England Club CEO, said on the first day of the tournament that any spectator wearing a shirt citing Peng’s name would be permitted to attend.
Peng Shuai altogether disappeared from public view last year after she accused former Communist Party official Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. Her accusations were quickly removed from the internet, and it is still a very sensitive and discouraged topic of conversation.
In the past, Peng won the Grand Slam women’s doubles title twice in her professional career. The situation surrounding her caused the women’s professional tennis tour to reportedly cancel its tournaments scheduled in China.
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