The Rev. Chu Yiu-Ming and eight other leaders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Umbrella Movement of 2014 were convicted of conspiracy, incitement, and “incitement to incite” public nuisance.
Activists Benny Tai, left, Chan Kin-man and the Rev. Chu Yiu-ming prepare to enter West Kowloon Magistrates Court in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Outside the courtroom, hundreds of their supporters packed into the hallway and watched the televised session on two screens. As Chu spoke, many began to weep. A pro-Democracy activist holds a paper saying"People's Hero" and shouts support for activists as they enter court Tuesday. “In many cases, people really just want to express themselves and be quite constructive in how they think public affairs should be conducted,” said Human Rights Watch’s Wang. “But the Chinese and Hong Kong government in the last five years generally react with a hammer.”
Tai originally envisioned Occupy Central as a two- to three-day sit-in. But as their movement started, another group of student protesters, led by then-17-year-old Joshua Wong, joined. The students boycotted class and stormed the government headquarters. A new wave of young candidates ran for office after the movement, but six of those who won were removed from the legislature for taking their oaths in a disrespectful manner. Others have been disqualified by officials who question if they believe that Hong Kong is an “inalienable part” of China.This year, Hong Kong’s government proposed a new national anthem law, threatening up to three years of prison for anyone who insults the Chinese national anthem.
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