American Protester Paints Beijing Hotel Rooms

An American pastor and activist, Eddie Romero, check into two upscale hotels in Beijing earlier this week and filmed himself painting the rooms with anti-Beijing slogans and then disappeared into the night without paying. Pictures and videos of the unusual protest is now making its way around the world via websites. Romero has been a part-time philosophy professor at Mt. San Antonio College, east of Los Angeles, for 8 years.

Romero's daughter, 32-year-old Los Angeles resident Sarah Yetter, says, "What he's doing is trying to bring attention to the plight of people of faith in China, as well as highlighting the deficiencies of human rights in China." Yetter says her father's actions are, "An act of nonviolent civil disobedience. He created two artistic murals in two Beijing hotel rooms." Yetter calls it "an effigy."

Yetter said her father "felt a call to do something about it. ... He's always been about justice and action for people who don't have a voice." When asked if her father has done anything like this before, Yetter said, "No, he hasn't. But I'm proud of him for taking a stand, taking this risk." Romero is said to be in hiding until after the Games end. At which point, Romero will reportedly turn himself in to the police.

Bob Fu, a leader of Texas-based China Aid Association, says he's known Romero for years. "He is a deeply sincere man who is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation on religious freedom in China. He is trying to use the most nonviolent, nondisruptive way to get the media attention to highlight the grave situation in China." (AP)