When Communists seized Xinxiang in 1949, they encouraged Han Chinese to settle the newly acquired province. Cities and large nationalized farms were infiltrated by the Han, and the Han went from relative minorities to in 2009 nearly matching the Uighur in population size. Uighurs have accused the Han of discrimination and of dominating government and economic positions. Repeated clashes have occurred between the Uighurs and the Chinese government over attempts for more autonomy and economic opportunity. Some of these clashes have involved violent action by the Uighur. Communist authorities have responded with force to quell and prevent conflicts. Uighurs have ben labeled terrorists by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and in 2002 the United States government labeled the obscure Uighur separatist group East Turkestan Islamic Movement as terrorists ². Chinese police arrested 82 Uighurs in 2008 for an alleged plot to attack the summer Olympic Games. Despite these labels and accusations against the Uighur, they have maintained their protests are peaceful and do not instigate violence.

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