Last week, CODEPINK helped organize a vigil to honor the life of Dr. Danhao Wang on the one-month anniversary of his death. It was reported that Dr. Wang jumped from the upper floor of a university building shortly after being targeted and questioned by federal authorities. 

Dr. Wang is the most recent Chinese scholar at the University of Michigan to face political discrimination and unfair targeting. In the last year, five Chinese scholars have been accused of various crimes, detained for months on end, and ultimately deported after the quiet dismissal of their cases due to a lack of evidence. 

Over 30 members of the local community attended the vigil, bringing candles and flowers. CODEPINK member Bob McMurray spoke to the crowd: “Tonight, I want us to remember there is a mom & dad mourning the loss of their son; there are people here in the University research community feeling his absence every day; and we, as the human family, have lost a brother.”

The death of Dr. Wang is a profound tragedy that could have been prevented. In July, CODEPINK delivered a petition to the UM board of regents calling for greater protection for international scholars, including access to legal and mental health support, should any face federal persecution. Those calls went unanswered. 

The University of Michigan continues to work closely with the government, aiding them in these politically motivated investigations. They are not only complicit but also actively contribute to the creation of violence against Chinese scholars. This is not the first time a targeted scholar has died: in 2024, Dr. Jane Wu of Northwestern University committed suicide after a targeted investigation led to the closure of her lab. Even though all charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence, her life was ruined. Dr. Wu’s family is now suing Northwestern University for their role in her death. 

👉Join Us In Signing a Letter of Support to Dr. Wang’s Family: We Stand With You.

The broader political climate cannot be ignored. Increasingly, U.S. policy and rhetoric have framed China as a primary geopolitical adversary, particularly in science and technology. This framing has filtered down into academic spaces, where international collaboration between the U.S. and China is now essentially criminalized. 

This manifests as increased violence toward the Chinese American community, making what should be safe spaces — such as universities — increasingly dangerous. 

The ramifications of this can not be overstated. Cooperation between the U.S. and China, specifically on technological advancement, is critical to the well-being of the planet. Take Dr. Wang’s research, for example. He was one of the top scholars studying gallium nitride semiconductors, which can be used to improve the speed and efficiency of energy consumption devices, including renewable tech like electric vehicles and solar power. His death is a great loss, not just to all who knew him, but to all of mankind. 

A few of the many scholars who have been unjustly targeted.

We will continue to put increased pressure on the University of Michigan and other universities to do more to protect their international students, to preserve the integrity of academic research, to protect international collaboration, and to ensure that scientific progress is not undermined by federal discrimination.

But right now, we will send a letter of support to Dr. Wang’s family, and let them know they are not alone in their suffering and that a large community of U.S. citizens stand with Dr. Wang and all the Chinese scholars who continue to be affected by the U.S. government’s ongoing persecution. 

👉Write to Dr. Wang’s Family: We Are Deeply Sorry For Your Loss.

Peace and solidarity, 

Megan, Jodie, and the CODEPINK Team

Learn more: Exposing the University of Michigan’s Violence Against Chinese Scholars.

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