Protester Arrested Near Fete Honoring Beijing Regime

One person was arrested outside a Chinatown restaurant Sunday during a demonstration protesting human rights violations in China. Inside, 600 people were attending a luncheon celebrating the 40th anniversary of China’s Communist government.

Although several protests have been staged by Chinese students and others in Los Angeles since troops crushed student-led, pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing in June, the rallies have generally been peaceful and without arrests.

Chich Jen Tung, 52, of Monterey Park, was booked on a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a police officer in performance of his duties.

“He is from a group that is more strident, and we were unable to control him,” said Ting Huang, a spokesman for the Chinese community groups and students staging the demonstration.

Huang said that, as diners left the Golden Palace restaurant on North Broadway, demonstrators shouted in Chinese, “We have to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party!” and “How can you sit down and enjoy your meal when the meals are the blood, sweat and tears of the Chinese people!”