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Pastor arrested for protesting human rights abuses outside Chinese embassy

Washington, Washington, D.C., United States · Sep 28, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Sep 28.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
A pastor protested against human rights abuses by the Chinese government outside its embassy in Washington, D.C.
What they want
To exercise First Amendment rights to demonstrate and pray on the public sidewalk outside the Chinese embassy.
What changed
Oct 21: The pastor was arraigned in court, pleaded not guilty, and was ordered to stay away from the embassy sidewalk pending trial.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Exercise First Amendment rights on public sidewalks
  • Protest Chinese human rights abuses

Organised by: Christian Defense Coalition, American Center for Law and Justice

What authorities say

According to the sources, U.S. Secret Service officers arrested the pastor at the request of the Chinese embassy delegation, charging him with unlawful entry.12

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Arrests / detentions
1
An American pastor was arrested and charged with a crime.12

The full story

An American pastor and director of the Christian Defense Coalition held a demonstration and prayer protest on the public sidewalk outside the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. According to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), U.S. Secret Service officers arrested the pastor following complaints from Chinese embassy officials who claimed jurisdiction over the sidewalk. The pastor was charged with unlawful entry. The ACLJ stated that the U.S. government improperly complied with demands from the Chinese regime. The pastor pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, and a court ordered him to stay off the sidewalk near the embassy until the legal proceedings conclude.

Timeline

  1. The pastor attended an arraignment hearing, pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry charges, and received a court order barring him from the embassy sidewalk.12

  2. Pastor Rev. Patrick Mahoney was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service while demonstrating and praying outside the Chinese embassy.2

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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