Chinese Cops Bust Poet Over Umbrella

A Chinese poet could reportedly face three years in prison, and it's all because of an umbrella. Wang Zang posted a picture of himself online holding an umbrella—and, it should be noted, sporting a one-fingered salute—after said rain shields, also used to block tear gas, became a symbol for Hong Kong protesters. Shortly afterward, the Beijing 29-year-old was taken into custody, his wife tells the Telegraph. Police say the arrest, following a poetry event, was because of the photo, activist organization PEN reports. Next, police came to Wang's home, "demanding to come in for a conversation," she says. "They showed me a blank search warrant and rummaged through everything, searching every corner of the house."

They took the umbrella, among other items—including a pair of glasses, for reasons that aren't clear, the Telegraph notes. The umbrella will likely be used as evidence against Wang, says a rights lawyer who is defending the poet. A conviction for "provoking troubles" could come with a three-year sentence, the lawyer says. Some 25 activists throughout China have been held by police amid the protests. (More China stories.)