On the morning of 30 July 2012, Tạ Phong Tần's 64-year-old mother, Dang Thi Kim Lieng, set herself on fire outside the Bac Lieu People's Committee in protest of her daughter's detention, one week before Tan's trial was set to begin.
Pagi hari tanggal 30 Juli 2012, ibu Tạ Phong Tần berusia 64 tahun, Dang Thi Kim Lieng, membakar dirinya sendiri di luar kantor Komite Rakyat Bac Lieu sebagai protes atas penahanan putrinya, satu minggu sebelum persidangan Tan dimulai.