Activist for Media Freedom Standing Trial in China A leading human rights activist who organized rallies for media freedom stood trial Friday in a southern Chinese city for disturbing public order, more than 15 months after he was detained by police. Zhang Lei, defense lawyer for Yang Maodong, said on his microblog that Yang's trial at Tianhe District Court got off to a tense start when the court several times cut off arguments by the defense. A court employee declined to confirm the trial against Yang, but he said a "special case" was taking place, without further elaboration. Rights lawyers and advocates said there was tight security around the courthouse. Yang, better known by his penname Guo Feixiong, is a veteran activist who advocates greater political freedom and more civic engagement in China. In January 2013, Yang helped organize demonstrations and gave a speech in support of the editorial staff at the newspaper Southern Weekly in Guangzhou after its journalists said a New Year's message that called for rule by the constitution was altered because of censorship. Yang was detained several months later and is charged with gathering crowds to disrupt public order. His supporters say the rallies were orderly. Human Rights Watch called on authorities to drop all charges against Yang and fellow defendant Sun Desheng and to release both of them. "Beijing's assault on civil society seems to know no bounds as peaceful activists are increasingly subject to criminal prosecutions," said Sophie Richardson, the group's China director, in a statement. At what point will the Chinese government realize individuals like Guo Feixiong and Sun Desheng are allies in strengthening the rule of law, not enemies of the state?