AFTER THE ESCAPE

Chen: ‘Revenge’ Taken on Family

University of Washington offers him a teaching position.

Escaped Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng said Thursday that local officials are “going crazy with reprisals” against his family—and his sister-in-law and nephew have both been detained. “They’ve started taking revenge,” said Chen, who is being treated at a Beijing hospital for injuries suffered during his escaped. Chen said he has recently spoken with his elderly mother, but otherwise communication with his family has been unreliable. Meanwhile, the University of Washington offered a fellowship to Chen, as did New York University, as he awaits for approval to travel to the U.S. Chen, who is blind, escaped house arrest and sought refuge in the U.S. embassy, greatly embarrassing Chinese officials and possibly causing a diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and China.