Chen Guangcheng Asks Congress Via Phone to Come to U.S.

CHINA -- May 3, 2012 at 5:47 PM EDT

Chen Guangcheng Asks Congress Via Phone to Come to U.S.

During a live U.S. congressional hearing Thursday afternoon, Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng made a dramatic telephone appeal to come to the United States.

"I want to come to the U.S. to rest. I have not had a rest in 10 years," the blind dissident said.

His remarks were broadcast via the speaker on an iPhone held up to a microphone at the hearing and interpreted by a translator.

"I'm concerned most right now with the safety of my mother and brothers. I really want to know what's going on with them."

On Wednesday's NewsHour broadcast, Jeffrey Brown, Xiao Qiang of The China Digital Times and The New Yorker's Evan Osnos discussed the blind activist's unclear fate and how his saga has affected U.S.-China relations.

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