[Yang Qilin, Sichuan Petitioner]:
“In 2002 my parents were killed, and when I tried to petition for justice I was targeted and attacked. Injustice has occurred to two generations and I request the National People’s Congress to govern legally and deal with my case in accordance with the law, and to uphold the dignity of the law.”

That was Yang Qilin. He’s one of hundreds of petitioners gathered in Beijing who’ve pleaded their cases on a video compiled by human rights activist Wu Guangzhou.

Wu suffered severe injuries from being attacked by property developers 10 years ago, and became a petitioner himself. Then he started helping others defend their rights as well. He wants to give his video to the Chinese regime’s National People’s Congress— or NPC—during the plenary session in March.

[Wu Guangzhou, Rights Activist]:
“Every day, hundreds of people will attend the filming. I have recorded nearly one thousand speeches. Everyone has a film clip, because everyone has something to say. To sum it up, they just want corruption to be punished and stopped, and they want the National People’s Congress to fulfill their responsibilities.”

Every year petitioners from around the country gather in Beijing, when the NPC and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference hold their plenary sessions—also known as the “Two Meetings.”

Petitioners are often driven out of town by Beijing police and security officers. But for those who do get a chance to tell their plight, many have this to say:

[Petitioner from Guizhou]:
“I have legally appealed my case many times, but it has not been dealt with reasonably. I want the NPC to uphold justice for me. I want human rights, I want dignity, I want my life. I want to live.”