BEIJING — Chinese authorities cracked down on activists as a call circulated for people to gather in more than a dozen cities today for a “Jasmine Revolution” apparently inspired by the wave of pro-democracy demonstrations sweeping the Middle East.
The source of the call was not known, but authorities moved to halt its spread online, and police detained at least 14 people, by one activist’s count. Searches for the word “jasmine” were blocked Saturday on China’s largest Twitter-like microblog. The website where the request first appeared said it was hit by an attack.
Activists seemed not to know what to make of the call to protest, even as they passed it on. Authorities appeared to be treating the protest call seriously. Families and friends reported the detention or harassment of several activists, and some said they were warned not to participate. The Associated Press
