Southern California pastor protests in Beijing

Eddie Romero in his Beijing hotel

Eddie Romero, a religion professor at Mt. San Antonio College whom AP is referring to as a pastor, painted this protest the walls of his Beijing hotel. After recording this “Gadfly in Beijing” video, he went into hiding. The LA Times’ Olympics blog has this update from Romero’s daughter, Sarah Yetter:

“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 said.

His chosen route? “An act of nonviolent civil disobedience,” Yetter said. “He created two artistic murals in two Beijing hotel rooms.” (And, no, that isn’t Romero on the bed in the photo. Yetter said it is “an effigy,” and that video now online was transferred via his computer.)

Yetter said that 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.”

Police reports have been filed, according to the AP, and Romero is said to be in hiding until after the Games end. At which point, Romero will reportedly turn himself in to the police.