Source: CNN
I swear this sounds like some made-up bunch of crap to appease President Hu or someone.
Federal charges were filed Friday against a heckler who interrupted an otherwise highly scripted ceremony welcoming Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House the day before, berating him for the persecution of the Chinese religious sect Falun Gong.
Wen Yi Wang, 47, was charged with harassing a foreign official, a federal misdemeanor punishable by six months in prison and a fine of $5,000.
The federal law is designed to protect foreign dignitaries and official guests, and prohibits attempts to "intimidate, threaten, coerce or harass a foreign official or an official guest or obstruct a foreign official in the performance of his duties."
Wang appeared Friday before Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson in Washington, and a preliminary hearing was set for May 3. She was freed on her own recognizance, but was ordered to stay away from the White House.
After her court appearance, Wang said she had not committed a crime, only an act of "civil disobedience."
Wang, a physician and Falun Gong practitioner, said in a later interview with CNN that she didn't regret her action and that she would do it again if given a chance.
"I just wanted him to know what Falun Gong practitioners think," she said of Hu, adding that though she knew her conduct was prohibited, "saving the people was more important."
Wang is a naturalized U.S. citizen who works as a journalist for the Epoch Times. She had a one-day press pass that gave her access to a photographers' platform at the ceremony.
Good for you, Ms. Wang. I commend and applaud your efforts.
There's a javascript-based video feed on CNN's site (the link provided above), and there's also a link to a PDF document that details the charges against Ms. Wang.
Tags: [Wen Yi Wang], [Hu protestor gets charged with "harassing a foreign official"], [Wang is released and ordered to stay away from the White House]
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