Dozens of people attended a memorial service on Sunday at Boston’s Faneuil Hall on Sunday Nov. 27 to mourn the victims of a recent fire in Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China. 

The fire started in an apartment building in northwestern China’s Xinjiang region, killing 10 people and injuring nine – a high toll that many suspected was linked to Covid restrictions that have confined people to their homes.

The tragedy is believed to be the trigger for an ongoing round of protests against the Chinese government.

About 30 people brought candles and flowers to mourn at Faneuil Hall at 5pm on Sunday. Some of them made speeches protesting Chinese government policies. 

Kendrick, who wanted to remain anonymous, said, “I saw the event posted on Instagram. Even with the rain pouring tonight, a lot of people have still come here to mourn.”

She said that after posting an announcement of the event on Chinese social media, trying to let more people know who may have been in Boston, it had been deleted just a few hours later and her account removed from the platform.

There will be a similar event called Boston Candlelight Vigil held on Dec. 2 in Tiananmen Memorial Park in Boston at 7pm.