Wang Jantao Arrested for Making A Poem?

Erick Yax-Vidal

Green Class

2/5/2012

Wang Jantao Arrested for Making A Poem?

Wang Juntao was a poet born in 1959 and was a high school student at the time of the 1976 during the anti-capitalist Gang of Four demonstrations in China. He authored the most famous of that movement's protest poems:

“In my grief I hear demons shriek;

I weep while wolves and jackals laugh.

Though tears I shed to mourn a hero,

With head raised high, I draw my sword .”

Wang was arrested and sentenced to thirteen years in prison, but due to the fall of the Gang Of Four he only served seven months. After that he attended the University of Beijing where he received degree in physics. In the late 80’s he co-founded the Beijing Social Economics Studies Institute. He was arrested once again in 1989 for allegedly being part of the “black hands”. There he contracted hepatitis B. He was given medical release in 1994 and immigrated to America. Today he is studying at Columbia University.

Wang Juntao was a poet born in 1959 and was a high school student at the time of the 1976 during the anti-capitalist Gang of Four demonstrations in China. He authored the most famous of that movement's protest poems: