NEWS PROVIDED BY
Christian Defense Coalition
Sept. 24, 2026
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, and his team faced arrest if they walked past these barricades to pray on the public sidewalk in front of the embassy.
The activists were there to pray and stand in solidarity with persecuted and imprisoned Christians, political dissidents and all those facing human rights abuses while Chinese President Xi was attending a summit with President Trump.
Reverend Mahoney was told the United States government had shut the public sidewalk down in front of the Chinese Embassy.
While the activists were not allowed past the barricades scores of other people and vendors were.
The only people not allowed be on the public sidewalk in front of the Chinese Embassy were peaceful demonstrators who were calling for human rights and freedom in China.
Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states;
“It is deeply troubling the United States government prohibited American citizens from peacefully praying and demonstrating on the public sidewalk in front of the Chinese embassy during President Xi’s visit to Washington DC.
“Over the past decades, I have peacefully prayed and demonstrated dozens of times on the public sidewalk in front of the Chinese Embassy and have never been blocked like this before.
“During President Xi’s visit to Washington, the Trump Administration should be showcasing free speech and public dissent in the public Square and not crushing it.
“Quite frankly, I would expect a response like this in Beijing, but not in our nation’s capital.”
For more information or interviews
Please contact Rev. Mahoney at 540.538.4741
SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition