When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a crackdown against Tibetans in March 2008, the Chinese regime was accusing Western media for biased reporting of the violence.
The following month, CNN's Jack Cafferty, on the “Situation Room” program said the Chinese leaders were “basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."
Afterwards, China’s foreign ministry department demanded an apology, and many of the Chinese associations and leaders organized protests against CNN. Councilman John Liu, along with the Chinese Consulate General Peng Keyu and his associates, organized protests in New York’s Foley Square.
John Liu helped secure a permit for the event. Event highlights included a speech by Liu, who said: “The last couple of months there's been unfair statements about China, about Beijing, even about the Olympics, and people disagree with. And the fact is when people feel very strongly we need to make a statement and make a voice.”
Small airplanes flew overhead with streamers that read, "Go 2008 Beijing Olympics" and "CNN Jack Cafferty is a liar.”
The event also featured exhibitions of how the Tibetan culture and history has “grown” under the CCP’s rule.