On February 14, 2026, the California Hong Kong Club, the China Democratic Party, and the China Democratic Education Foundation, among other organizations, held a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco to protest the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, the founder of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily and former chairman of the newspaper, to 20 years in prison on charges of “conspiring with foreign forces to endanger national security” and “conspiring to publish seditious materials.” A simultaneous solidarity action took place in Southern California on the same day.
The organizers stated that the purpose of the rally was to show support for Jimmy Lai and to express concerns over the erosion of press freedom and judicial fairness in Hong Kong.
The event was hosted by Kenneth Ng. He pointed out that the case of Jimmy Lai is not just about an individual’s fate but symbolizes a significant regression in Hong Kong’s freedom and rule of law. “The one sentenced today is not just a person, but a set of values,” said Ng.
Fang Zheng, a survivor of the Tiananmen Square incident and former president of the China Democratic Education Foundation, called on the international community to pay attention to the current situation in Hong Kong and urged the U.S. government to pressure Beijing to release Jimmy Lai and other individuals imprisoned for their speech.
A pastor led the attendees in a moment of silent prayer for the lost press freedom in Hong Kong and the incarcerated individuals, creating a solemn and reverent atmosphere.
Several representatives took turns giving speeches. Ken Chan recounted Jimmy Lai’s journey from his teenage years of illegally immigrating to Hong Kong to building his media empire from scratch, praising his unwavering commitment to freedom of speech. Some speakers pointed out that the closure of the Apple Daily and the changes in the trial procedures, including the abolishment of jury trials, signal profound shifts in Hong Kong’s judicial system.
Zhou Yunlong, a member of the China Democratic Party, stated that the case of Jimmy Lai symbolizes the end of Hong Kong’s era of freedom, emphasizing that “press freedom should not be a crime.” The attendees chanted slogans such as “Free Jimmy Lai,” “Release Jimmy Lai,” and “Defend Press Freedom,” and sang “Glory to Hong Kong” together to express their unwavering support for freedom and human rights.
The organizers emphasized in a statement that they will continue to monitor the situation in Hong Kong, calling for the protection of fair trials and freedom of speech, and advocating for the release of all individuals imprisoned for expressing dissenting views.