China's Notorious Urban Police Moved to Tears by Street Vendors' Show of Support

The officials, called ‘chengguan’ are a para-police force responsible for enforcing minor bylaws, including those regulating street trading. In general, the Chengguan serve as an official agency employed by cities across China "to tackle low-level crime." However they are often criticized for how they treat people and abuses of power.

The photos show street vendors in Fengjie County in Chongqing with posters and slogans on their T-shirts saying “My chengguan brothers, you’ve been working hard” and “Chengguans are my brothers”.

The officials were moved to tears at the sight of the slogans, according to the Chongqing Morning Post. In photos, a chengguan can be seen weeping.

The man who organized the act of support told reporters that he wanted to apologize to his friend, who worked as a chengguan for 19 years and was often mocked and even attacked by street vendors when he went to the market to buy food.

About 40,000 people left comments on the story on the news website 163.com. Some of them doubted that the vendors were sincere. Other argued that Chongqing officials are probably more adequate in the city than their counterparts in other cities.