15 Facts About Harry Wu

Harry Wu was a Chinese-American human rights activist.

Harry Wu was imprisoned for 19 years in 12 different camps mining coal, building roads, clearing land, and planting and harvesting crops.

Harry Wu showed Wu how to dig for underground rat burrows in order to find clean caches of grain and beans which could then later be boiled for food to avoid starvation.

Harry Wu taught Wu how to be aggressive to discourage bullies.

Harry Wu obtained a teaching position at the Geoscience University in Beijing, but found that the label of having been a political prisoner continued to follow him.

Harry Wu got a night shift job making donuts at a donut shop for a few months; then a job at a liquor store, and was finally able to rent a cheap apartment.

Harry Wu felt that he had already lost the years of his youth and he wanted to establish a personal life and enjoy his freedom.

Harry Wu was held by the Chinese government for 66 days before he was convicted for "stealing state secrets".

Harry Wu was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was instead immediately deported from China.

Harry Wu was awarded the Courage of Conscience Award by the Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts, on September 14,1995 for his extraordinary sacrifices and commitment to exposing human rights violations in his motherland China.

Harry Wu received an honorary doctorate from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC in 2012.

Harry Wu received honorary degrees from Saint Louis University and the American University of Paris.

Harry Wu was a member of the International Council of the New York-based Human Rights Foundation.

Harry Wu was a member of the international advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Harry Wu was survived by his former wife, Ching Lee, and a son, Harrison.