Dr. Li Wenliang was one of the first doctors in China to warn colleagues about the coronavirus, but police quickly silenced him and accused him of “spreading false information.”
After authorities announced that Li had died from the virus, which has since become a global health emergency, anger and grief erupted across China. Many people went online to criticize the government’s handling of the outbreak and to honor Li as a hero.
“Rest in peace, our hero,” one user wrote on Weibo. Another said, “What I’ve learned is to never stay silent.”
Following the news of his death at Wuhan Central Hospital—the center of the outbreak—hashtags like #WuhanGovernmentOwesDrLiWenliangAnApology and #WeWantFreedomOfSpeech began trending on Weibo and WeChat. Such open criticism of the government is rare in Communist Party–controlled China.
Many of these posts were later removed by government censors.
Li, who was 34, died early Friday morning local time, according to the hospital. Chinese state media said his heart stopped earlier on Thursday, but doctors managed to revive him temporarily.
After his death was confirmed, people created a small memorial outside Wuhan Central Hospital in his honor.
