(Minghui.org) The Laixi City Police Department and Municipal Government in Shandong Province saw two unexpected petitioners staging a public protest on January 22.

An 83-year-old woman wearing a white vest was standing outside in the cold, accompanied by her daughter's mother-in-law. Her vest had these messages printed on it: “Officer Li Weikui Assaulted Me” and “Release My Daughter.”

The elderly woman's daughter, Ms. Li Meiling, was arrested last December while selling noodles in a public market. Ms. Li's husband, mother, and mother-in-law went to the police department many times to request her release, only to be turned away each time.

On one of these visits, Officer Li Weikui kicked Ms. Li's mother in the chest and she sustained injuries to her soft tissue. Instead of believing her account of the attack, his supervisor flatly denied it even happened. Having no other way to seek justice, the mother protested outside the officers' buildings.

Ms. Li Meiling's mother (in white vest) and mother-in-law in front of the Laixi Police Department

Ms. Li Meiling's mother (in white vest) and mother-in-law in front of the Laixi Government Office Building.

This all began with Ms. Li's arrest in December.

December 13: Daughter Arrested

Ms. Li Meiling (李美玲) is a Falun Gong practitioner. She was taken into custody by the police when she was selling noodles at a Laixi market on December 13, 2014. Police gave no reason for the arrest.

It has been common practice for police to arrest Falun Gong practitioners without charges or a valid reason, after the Chinese Communist Party launched its nationwide campaign against the spiritual practice in 1999.

Ms. Li's husband has since then gone many times to the police station that arrested her to ask for information. The man who led the arrest, Political Instructor Li Pizhong (刘丕忠), denied that he was involved and refused to provide any explanation for the arrest.

January 8: No Answers

After Ms. Li's mother heard that her daughter was taken away, she and her daughter's husband and mother-in-law went to the Laixi Police Department on January 8 to request Ms. Li's release.

They visited the office of Section Chief Shen Tao (沈涛), who is in charge of persecuting Falun Gong. After hearing why they came, Shen flew into a rage and shouted profanities at Ms. Li's husband.

Nearing the noon hour, Shen told the two ladies to get something to eat. When the ladies returned, they found Shen's door locked. They repeatedly asked to come in to no avail. The ladies waited in the hallway until 3 p.m., when they left with no answers.

January 9: Mother Kicked in the Chest by Police

They returned to see Shen the next day, but his staff had locked the door.

Once more, they stood in the hallway to wait. Tired, they sat on the ice-cold cement. A policeman who passed by them opened a window to let the cold air in. They moved in front of the locked door to avoid the cold breeze.

Ms. Li's mother and mother-in-law were locked outside the office; one laid on the cold cement ground.

Soon an officer named Li Weikui opened the door and stood in the doorway where the two women were sitting. He said they were in his way and pulled Ms. Li's mother-in-law away from the doorway. He then tried to do the same with Ms. Li's mother but she grabbed his leg and held it tightly, so Li kicked her in the chest. She held her chest in pain, and was unable to move for a long while.

January 10-11: Chest Pain Worsens

Despite the pain, Ms. Li's mother accompanied Ms. Li's mother-in-law to the police department again on the next day. Guards refused them entry, as it was Saturday and the office was closed.

Ms. Li's chest pain got worse so that she could not to eat or sleep.

Ms. Li's husband called Shen several times the next day but Shen didn't answer.

January 12: Police Deny Assault Despite Confirmed Soft Issue Injury

Ms. Li's husband accompanied the two women to the police department, looking for Li Weikui to take Ms. Li's mother to hospital for a checkup. As the family saw it, the person who attacked the elderly woman should take responsibility for her injury.

When Ms. Li's husband told Shen what happened, Shen said to Ms. Li's mother, “Who beat you? We didn't. Where's your evidence? It is your son-in-law who beat you.”

Ms. Li's husband took his mother-in-law to the hospital to check on her injuries.

Hospital's diagnosis

Frustrated with police inaction, the two mothers staged a public protest on January 22. Staff from the Laixi Appeals Office were sent to talk to the petitioning women. They issued a letter that referred the family's concern back to the Discipline Inspection Section of the police department.

At this time, the police department has not taken any action addressing the mother's injury or her request to release her daughter.

Individual participated in persecuting Ms. Li's Mother:

Shen Tao, Section Chief: +86-13793229166 (mobile)Li Weikui, Deputy Section Chief: +86-13969606750 (mobile)

Individual participated in persecuting Ms. Li Meiling:Liu Pizhong, Political Instructor, Rizhuang Town Police Station, Laixi: 023742 (Police ID), +86-13969704727 (Mobile), +86-532-85409467 (Home)