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Anti-John Liu protestors disrupt political forum

THE COURIER/Photos by Eric Jankiewicz

A group of protestors crashed a political discussion forum in Flushing Tuesday, claiming that one of the candidates, John Liu, was a spy for the Chinese government.

Liu and Paul Gilman are challenging state Sen. Tony Avella for his seat in the state senate. They were invited to discuss issues ranging from immigration to the minimum wage.

Unlike a debate, each person answered questions individually. But as soon as Liu took the stage several people from the large audience stood up from their seats, walked up to Liu and unraveled a sign that said “Arrest john [sic] Liu to Prevent his further Harm to the U.S.”

Liu supporters quickly tore the sign down but the protestors, shouting in Mandarin, prevented the forum from continuing for more then 20 minutes.

Workers from the MinKwon Center,the organization that held the forum ,attempted to remove the protestors by pushing them out, but the anti-Liu group wouldn’t budge.

Eventually cops were called and escorted the protestors from the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing.

“This injustice must be exposed,” protester Guohua Liu said through a translator. “Mr. Liu is not an American; he is with the Chinese government.”

After the protestors left, Liu, the politician, explained that these protestors often follow him around and crash other parties.

The other candidates were not present for the protest.  Each addressed the group separately.

 

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