Duke University student Grace Wang (Wang Qianyuan 王千源) writes about her attempt at mediating between pro-Chinese and pro-Tibet demonstrators and the aftermath.

Truthfully, both sides were being quite closed-minded and refusing to consider the other's perspective. I thought I could help try to turn a shouting match into an exchange of ideas. <...>

What a lot of people don't know is that there were many on the Chinese side who supported me and were saying, "Let her talk." But they were drowned out by the loud minority who had really lost their cool.

Some people on the Chinese side started to insult me for speaking English and told me to speak Chinese only. But the Americans didn't understand Chinese. It's strange to me that some Chinese seem to feel as though not speaking English is expressing a kind of national pride. But language is a tool, a way of thinking and communicating. <...>

I talked to my mom the next morning, and she said that she and my dad were going into hiding because they were getting death threats, too. She told me that I shouldn't call them. Since then, short e-mail messages have been our only communication. The other day, I saw photos of our apartment online; a bucket of feces had been emptied on the doorstep. More recently I've heard that the windows have been smashed and obscene posters have been hung on the door. Also, I've been told that after convening an assembly to condemn me, my high school revoked my diploma and has reinforced patriotic education.

Screenshot from Chinese Central Television's website labeling her "最丑陋的留学生 (Most disgraceful/hideous overseas Student)":

Here is a video of the demonstration.  Can't really understand much of what is being said.  Grace Wang appears at about 5'20"):

A language is a dialect with an army and navy.