Peking University students clash with campus guards over control of Marxist Society
- Witnesses say some protesters were injured as they were forced to go inside science building
- University announced new committee will run the group after its chairman was detained and warned over Mao Zedong anniversary event
A dozen Peking University students clashed with guards on Friday as they protested over a change to the Marxist Society that was imposed after it organised an event to mark the 125th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birth.
Witnesses said the students held placards near a science building at the campus in Beijing as they protested against the decision to install a new committee to run the society.
They said the students had locked arms during the peaceful protest but some were injured when security guards forced them to go into the building, manhandling and in some cases carrying them inside.
“Several of them were pushed to the ground and suffered cuts to their hands and some had their glasses broken in the struggle,” according to one witness.
At least eight of the students were still inside the building on Friday evening, according to a source.
