Tensions Rise as Shanghai Police Confront Halloween Celebrations

This past weekend, Shanghai saw a significant police presence during Halloween festivities, with officers dispersing crowds and reportedly arresting attendees amid concerns over public expression and larger gatherings. Witnesses have raised questions about the targeting of certain costumes as rumors circulated earlier in the month about a potential crackdown.

Shanghai's Halloween celebrations have been marred by an overwhelming police presence, as authorities implemented patrols and established barriers across the city over the weekend. This heavy-handed response has raised eyebrows, with many interpreting it as a broader attempt by the government to suppress large public gatherings and limit freedom of expression.

Witness accounts revealed that police were seen dispersing crowds in costumes throughout the streets of Shanghai, while social media platforms were flooded with images depicting alleged arrests of participants. Notably, this year’s Halloween event unfolded in the shadow of last year’s celebrations, which featured people in notable costumes mockingly critiquing the Chinese government and its policies. Participants donned outfits resembling surveillance cameras, Covid testers, and imagery from the heavily censored social media platform Weibo.

This year, however, footage shared across social media showed individuals dressed in ostensibly innocuous costumes, including comic book characters like Batman and Deadpool, being ushered into police vehicles. Some reported being coerced into removing makeup while being detained at police stations. The criteria for police intervention remained ambiguous, with several revelers reporting that they were left unscathed while others faced repercussions.

As seen by onlookers, particularly on Julu Road, a significant police force descended upon the area on Friday, compelling those in costume to vacate the scene. An eyewitness recounted how, during a visit to Zhongshan Park on Saturday night, the atmosphere shifted dramatically around 10 PM local time when police began clearing the park and issuing directives to remove headgear before leaving. One individual allegedly clashed with authorities as he attempted to enter the celebration.

Residents expressed concern over the situation, suggesting that the police force present appeared to outnumber the attendees. "Shanghai is not supposed to be like this," one resident lamented; "It has always been very tolerant." While the Shanghai police have yet to issue a statement, the BBC has sought a response regarding the operations.

Rumors suggesting a crackdown had circulated prior to the events, with business proprietors in the city receiving notices discouraging Halloween celebrations. Additionally, some universities reportedly warned students against participating in any gatherings. A student from Fudan University disclosed that school authorities had reached out to inquire about their activities over the weekend and cautioned them to keep their identities confidential if they attended celebrations.

This is not the first instance of Halloween-themed costumes drawing the ire of police in China. Back in 2014, Beijing officials indicated that individuals dressed in costumes aboard public transport could face arrest, citing concerns about the potential for crowd congregation.

The current context of heightened control comes in the wake of the White Paper Protest movement, which erupted in late 2022 when large groups, primarily consisting of youths, gathered on a street in Shanghai to mourn fire victims. The gathering quickly morphed into widespread protests against the government's stringent Covid policies, marking one of the most significant challenges to Chinese authority since the infamous Tiananmen Square protests.