Anti-Lockdown Protests In China: A Silent Cry For Freedom In Largest Uprising Since Tiananmen Square | SEE PICS

Blank sheets of paper have become a symbol of protest in China, as hundreds of people, notably university students in Beijing and Shanghai, are protesting the country's strict zero-Covid policy.

Protesters hold up a white piece of paper against censorship during a protest against Chinas strict zero COVID measures

On Monday, officials relaxed anti-virus measures in a few sites but maintained its stringent "zero- COVID" strategy after protesters demanded Chinese President Xi Jinping's resignation during protests against restrictions that compel millions of people to stay at home. (Image Source: Getty)

China has experienced an alarming increase in cases in recent days, including a 24-hour high of nearly 40,000 on Saturday, forcing authorities to impose stringent restrictions in accordance with the country's contentious zero-Covid policy, even as the rest of the world tries to coexist with the coronavirus. (Image Source: Getty)

Though the government made no comment on the protests or criticism of Xi, which were the most widespread display of opposition to the ruling Communist Party in decades, it did announce that it would no longer set up gates to block access to apartment complexes where infections were discovered, according to the AP. (Image Source: Getty)

Meanwhile, in response to the deadly fire last week that killed ten people and sparked protests, furious questions were raised about whether firemen or victims attempting to flee were obstructed by closed doors or other anti-virus precautions. (Image Source: Getty)

On Sunday night, at least 400 people gathered for several hours on the banks of a river in Beijing's capital, shouting: "We are all Xinjiang people! Go Chinese people!" (Image Source: Getty)

According to the Associated Press, police arrested two people at a protest location in Shanghai on Monday. Locals in Beijing continued to protest early Monday morning, in a rare display of public outrage directed at the government. The police were also seen separating people and asking them to remove images from their phones. (Image Source: Getty)

Protests in China increased in number, with hundreds of people flocking to the streets to oppose the country's zero-Covid policy. The demonstrators demand that the lockdown be lifted and that those who have been arrested be released. (Image Source: Getty)

Several social media videos from Nanjing in the east, Guangzhou in the south, and at least five other cities showed demonstrators tussling with police in white safety suits or destroying barricades erected to close off communities. However, the posts were deleted immediately on China's social media, as the Communist Party of China frequently does to suppress criticism, according to the Associated Press. (Image Source: Getty)