Defector recounts alleged religious persecution in China, warns about socialism in U.S. schools

At a community forum, Alvin, who said his surname is pronounced “Guo,” described his experience as a student in China and warned that political and cultural trends in U.S. schools could undermine religious freedom and free speech.

Alvin told the audience he was summoned to a principal’s office and threatened with expulsion after organizing an underground Bible study in school. “I was called to the principal’s office because I was a Christian,” he said, describing what he said were routine punishments and social pressure against religious practice in Chinese schools.

He said Chinese authorities and school officials used tactics that shamed and disciplined students who voiced religious beliefs or political dissent. Alvin described using virtual private networks to access banned foreign media and said censorship limited Chinese students’ knowledge of events abroad.…