It started simply enough—with an argument in a Chongqing restaurant over whether or not a bag was lost there.
It led to one of the most polite, effective protests of all time.
Ever since May 21, the Quanju restaurant in Chongqing’s Yubei district has had a regular supply of customers coming in.
Normally this would be a good thing, but in this case each customer takes up a separate table, and orders the cheapest item on the menu, fried peanuts or just order a beer. They then hang around for hours in an effort to cost the restaurant money.
After the protests occured three nights in a row, the restaurant manager called the police, who actually arrested seven of the customers and sent them to prison for five days.
According to the police report, however, the customers were not arrested because they were being disruptive. Instead the police just happened to find illegal knives in each of the patrons’ vehicles.
According to a lawyer familiar with this case, customers are not required by law to spend a minimum amount of money in restaurants, as per even the most recent consumer protection laws in China.
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Latest posts by Hysteria (see all)
- Locals Stage Peanut Rebellion - June 10, 2009
Gregory Orton
Ha, just happened to "find" illegal knives in every customers vehicle, how convenient. Still, got to admire their planning. But if it was just a single guys restaurants, chances are the peanuts cost 1 RMB anyway. Not really worth the effort. Amusing story though
pacat
Remindes me of some of the nonresistance in days gone by ,in our black community when they would go into a cafe and sit down at the counter and order coffee. No violence just dignity.Maybe this is a small start for our Chineese brethern to gain democracy
Canuck
"in our black community"…who's black community are you referring to? Oh yeah must be americans again thinking the world lives in the US. Gee, here in Canada, we didn't have slavery so our black community didn't do whatyou suggest above..ever heard of the underground railroad? Yup, it came to Canada. If you are ashamed of your past that is one thing, but don't make it seem like everybody had slavery to deal with.
M. Pius Potpourri
What, this guy isn't suppose to make a comment based on his own experience? I'm white, born in Detroit a mere 7 miles from Canada, a descendant of multiple Southern slave-owners, and I say he's right on. Let's look at how well people of color fared in other British colonies right up to the modern era–I say British colonies, because, for all their waving of the maple-leaf flag, Canada is still an industrial colony of the U.K., a major branch of International Capitalism, Inc., which rules the world in opposition all that is decent and holy. I can recall when Canadians thought their Governor-General had no teeth–boy, were they ever surprised when it turned out they still had to dance to the Queen's tune!!! They could be Americans if they just wanted–bringing a little diversity to the name; don't we live on the same continent? Some Canadians do appreciate this fact.
There was slavery in Canada at one time, just like there was in the Northern colonies, in some cases until just a few years before the War of Southern Secession. The man was careful to say "our" black community; why would anyone else assume they were automatically to be included, as he may be talking about his own personal experiences? And considering the preponderance of citizens of the U.S. on many websites, why should the man not talk about a history common to many among us; the contributions of black Americans to our culture are mostly things that have enriched us all.
ronni
so funny that a story about a small protest with peanuts and chinese people turns into a discussion about racism, racism between black people and white people even! that's crazy, should be discussing that kind of thing in different places, lol this is asian news, not racism weekly! 😀 great story 🙂
can't we all just get along?
peace!