protest protest large scale environmental protest southwestern chinese city copper plant residents feared posed environmental public health risks protests spanned july drew thousands participants police dispatched break demonstrations reportedly shot tear gas grenades crowd chinese authorities said protesters stormed government building smashed vehicles images video protest circulated social networking websites china showing protesters students badly beaten protests ended late july local government announced terminated construction metals plant released protesters taken custody protest notable size composition participants success copper plant project growing number large scale environmental protests china achieved success background city area severely impacted earthquake suffering heavy loss life major damage infrastructure centerpiece city economic efforts copper plant plant largest world construction intended spur economic growth creation thousands jobs china said billion plant tons tons copper annually copper processes produce variety toxic including mercury dioxide residents feared city air water supply critics charged government transparent reviewing information plant potential environmental impact director told guardian government released short version plant environmental report information solid waste waste water added heavy metal projects highly course public concerns residents city reportedly filed petitions project authorities took action reported local residents supported efforts create jobs upset government lack consultation public failure adequately address environmental concerns protests construction copper began june company laying foundation plant days later july hundreds student protesters assembled municipal government buildings protest project protests grew july thousands citizens including students nearby city demonstrated streets government offices demanding suspension project protesters carried banners unite protect environment generation safeguard hometown oppose chemical factory construction reported protest tens thousands participants authorities state run media reported protests turned violent police vehicles throwing bricks government buildings police dispatched quell protests firing tear gas grenades crowd protesters images video circulated online showing protesters beaten police carrying tear gas crowds witnesses told police stationed major roads security officers force disperse protests local government announced morning july copper plant construction suspended protests continued evening demanding release detained protesters students late evening july authorities released detained protesters protests subsided remained custody facing criminal administrative charges role demonstrations public demonstrations briefly revived july amidst rumors year old girl beaten death protests authorities consistently refuted reports casualties mass saying residents police officers injured local authorities said police exercised great restraint handling protest aftermath months protests residents told new_york_times signs project city quiet demonstrations concluded executive told magazine july unclear construction copper plant forward future located demonstrations authorities left providing housing compensation approximately villagers land room copper plant villagers reportedly received notices november saw homes demolished following month july receive promised compensation government communist_party committee meeting october authorities decided replace local party secretary position assumed mayor significance role students protests notable composition demonstration largely led organized young students china experiences tens thousands large scale protests annually student involvement anti government protests rare square protests wrote protests revealed potentially important shift country politics youth forefront day demonstration exposing new vein activism generation seen environmental causes land rights issues particularly attractive post 90s generation wrote wrote wall_street_journal protests growing public anger environmental degradation rise political activism china younger generation trends lead turn increase legal challenges arbitrary behavior local governments chinese blogger explained shift saying generation born generation social media embrace freedom speech alarmed participation students demonstration state run newspaper ran editorial july titled protest editorial young people stay mass protests political conflicts adults encouraged behavior normal peaceful country high school students focus school work revolutionary instinct urge young students join mass protest immoral adults exploit young political ends editorial met chinese social media websites responded drawing attention images young school children organized participate political rallies supporting ruling communist_party importance social media protest government run media outlets largely silent covering developments city july instance official media outlets carried minimal reports protests local government promise halt construction copper plant social media platforms text primary means information protests shared according july million posts containing included images close included video protests gave rise popular internet based photograph shield wielding police officer identified chasing group young protesters image scenes depicting chasing actor olympic appearing background scream atlantic wrote image representative growing resentment alleged abuses noting serve culture environment freedom speech limited speech china tend effective way spread political message said chinese social media expert blogger use remixed humor little easier talk critical topics
Shifang protest