The Murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun
Summary
This episode recounts the 1966 murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyong by her students during China’s Cultural Revolution. It details how Red Guard leader Song Binbin instigated violence against teachers labeled as counter-revolutionaries, culminating in Bian’s brutal death. The story contrasts Binbin’s later public apology with the victim’s husband’s enduring quest for justice, highlighting the regime’s reluctance to fully address the era’s atrocities.
Topics discussed
The murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyong
Host announcement: Days That Made America tour
Song Binbin posts anti-teacher propaganda
Context: Mao's Cultural Revolution and Red Guards
Escalation of violence against teachers
Bian Zhongyong's injuries and loss of faith
Final warnings and the night before the attack
The brutal execution of Bian Zhongyong
Husband preserves evidence; Binbin's later apology
Wider impact: Deaths and government silence
The memorial and lack of official justice
Preview of next episode and credits
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