Weiquan— rights defense—lawyering had two defining characteristics prior to the 2010-2011 crackdown on lawyers and civil society activists. First, weiquan lawyers were high-profile in their style of lawyering and did not shy away from political issues. They courageously accepted cases that other...

Ma Yalian (马亚莲), a Shanghai rights defender, went to Beijing to petition during the period of the Two Congresses, and had planned to protest on Tiananmen Square. But to avoid being harassed by the police, Ma had to hide at a friend’s home where she used her friend’s computer to send out the essay.

They straggle into the city center in groups of four and five throughout the morning, impervious to the constant downpour that soaks their clothing, some using crutches to walk. By mid-morning, some 300 Chinese petitioners, hailing from every corner of Henan Province, and possibly elsewhere, have...

Beijing-based disabled rights defender Ni Yulan (倪玉兰) was twice imprisoned for fighting against forced eviction. In April 2012, both she and her husband, Dong Jiqin (董继勤), were convicted of “picking quarrels and provoking troubles.” Ni was also convicted of “fraud” and was sentenced to two years...