In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng highlights a surge of pro-democracy posters and public slogans appearing across several provinces, explaining what these growing acts of resistance reveal about public frustration with the CCP. He also highlights farmers in Hunan who are pushing back against forced agricultural policies.

The episode further explores Xi Jinping’s recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, including the political stakes around tariffs, trade, and rare earth metals. Guangcheng offers insight into how these negotiations shape China’s global strategy and what they could mean for the future of U.S.–China relations.

In this part two, Raleigh Adams, first-place winner of the 2025 Human Rights Essay Contest, expands on the principle that “at the center of our response must be an affirmation of human dignity,” exploring how concrete measures—like transparency laws and civic education—must be anchored in that moral truth.

Together, she and Dr. William Saunders explore why dignity is the “moral backbone” of any authentic human rights framework and highlights the rising impact of civic education centers across the country.

Click here to read Raleigh Adams' Award Winning Essay: https://humanrights.catholic.edu/renewing-the-moral-ecology-of-freedom/

In this two part episode, Dr. William Saunders’ interviews Raleigh Adams, a first-place winner of the 2025 Human Rights Essay Contest at the Catholic University of America. Raleigh discusses her award-winning essay on the grave moral, cultural, and political threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to American democracy.

The conversation also highlights the depth, clarity, and accessibility of her work, which draws on both Catholic social teaching and broader principles of human dignity and the common good. Listeners will also hear about related programs at the university, including the Center for Human Rights and its master’s program in human rights.

Click here to read Raleigh Adams' Award Winning Essay: https://humanrights.catholic.edu/renewing-the-moral-ecology-of-freedom/

Part 2 coming soon!

Thank you for your support this year!

In this message to listeners during the Christmas season, Chen Guangcheng shares a reminder that political prisoners in China remain unjustly detained and separated from their families. He calls on the international community to continue advocating for human rights, freedom, and democracy in China and around the world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In this episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports on China, Chen Guangcheng discusses breaking developments in the case of Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai.

The episode examines Lai’s sentencing to life in prison, the political use of law by the Chinese Communist Party, and what the case reveals about freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in Hong Kong. Chen also highlights a notable shift in public reaction inside mainland China, where online support for Jimmy Lai briefly surged before being censored.

Check out our interview with Fr. Robert Sirico: https://youtu.be/oivGC5shzL0

Born from the devastation of WWII, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls the world to recognize one truth: every person carries inviolable dignity.

Chen Guangcheng, William Saunders, and fellows of the Center consider the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its eternal relevance.

Today we’re re-releasing our 15-minute mini-documentary exploring the UDHR’s origins, its 30 essential rights, and why these principles still matter — especially for those living under oppression today.

Human rights are for everyone.

In this episode, Chen Guangcheng exposes the Chinese Communist Party’s coordinated efforts to discredit human rights activists abroad. He shares how he and Pastor Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, have faced online harassment, false accusations, and even death threats aimed at silencing their advocacy for freedom and truth.Guangcheng reveals how fake social media accounts are being used to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion.

In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Barefoot Lawyer Reports, Chen Guangcheng reflects on 13 years of living in the United States and shares why he remains deeply grateful for the freedoms and safety he’s found here.

He discusses the importance of standing up to the CCP’s influence, the growing global awareness of its human rights abuses, and how social media is reshaping public understanding. Happy Thanksgiving!

In part two of her conversation with Dr. William Saunders, 2025 Human Rights Essay Contest winner Cristina Cevallos outlines the final steps of her six-part strategy to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights abuses. She discusses how diplomacy, advocacy, and economic pressure can be used to promote accountability and protect human dignity.

Drawing on real-world examples of forced labor and global supply chain violations, Cristina offers a practical framework for confronting oppression through law, policy, and public action.

Click here to read Cristina Cevallos' Award Winning Essay: https://humanrights.catholic.edu/how-do-you-eat-a-chinese-dragon-one-bite-at-a-time/

In this two part episode, Dr. William Saunders speaks with Cristina Cevallos, one of the first-place winners of the 2025 Human Rights Essay Contest. Cristina discusses her award-winning essay, “How Do You Eat the Chinese Dragon? One Bite at a Time,” which explores strategies to counter human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party through indirect yet effective action.

Together, Dr. Saunders and Cristina examine the role of U.S. leadership in promoting democracy and defending freedom, the importance of law enforcement and policy in addressing human rights violations, and how nations can unite to confront global threats to liberty.

Click here to read Cristina Cevallos' Award Winning Essay