Uyghurs are a muslim minority living in East Turkestan, also known colonially as Xinjiang. For many years, China has been accused of ethnic cleansing due to detaining millions of Uyghurs in "re-education camps" and they have sent thousands more to prison.

In 2022 there were a series of protests in mainland China known as the ‘white paper revolution’ where citizens were pushing back against the strict COVID-19 lockdown measures that the government enforced. The lockdowns during this period were so strict that people were locked in their homes, unable to leave for days at a stretch.

Many residents died as a result of these COVID-19 policies due to not being able to leave their homes for medical treatment, to get basic supplies and groceries. This included the building fire which happened on November 24, 2022 in occupied East Turkestan, also known colonially as Xinjiang. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, residents of the building were unable to leave and escape the fire. Ten people died in this fire and more were injured.

Thousands of citizens came together to protest against these measures which turned out to be one of the largest movements for the country in recent history. Protesters held blank sheets of paper in front of their faces so that surveillance footage wouldn’t be able to register their faces.

The white paper revolution also brought to attention the inhumane working conditions for Uyghurs in China and human rights abuses including forced labour in so-called ‘work camps’, and political indoctrination according to the Human Rights Watch.