Dozens of advocates for justice gathered outside the Ferry Building in San Francisco on the afternoon of November 24, 2024 (last Sunday) to show support for the “Hong Kong 47 case” condemned under the Chinese Communist Party’s National Security Law.
The event featured photos of the 47 warriors and Jimmy Lai, yellow umbrellas, Justice slogans, and waving flags of freedom. Speakers at the event expressed solidarity, sung “Glory to Hong Kong”, and paid tribute to the democratic heroes in Hong Kong.
At the start of the event, Kenneth, a spokesperson for the American Hong Kong Association, introduced the background of the event: On November 19, the Hong Kong court sentenced 47 warriors for the charge of “conspiring to subvert state power”, with sentences ranging from 4 to 10 years. “But their only ‘crime’ was participating in a primary election with over 60,000 voters,” Kenneth said.
Kenneth believes that the real destruction of the country is not by these candidates but by the judiciary punishment itself. Out of the 47 individuals, 45 have been sentenced. To pay tribute to them, the organizers read out their names, sentences, and recounted their stories.
Professor Benny Tai, falsely accused as the mastermind of “conspiring to subvert state power”, received a 10-year sentence. Kenneth mentioned that Tai will be remembered as a visionary who dared to dream of democratic Hong Kong.
Ho Kit-lam, a journalist and a core figure in Stand News, was sentenced to 7 years for reporting on the “Yuen Long attack incident”. Despite being knocked down, she continued to broadcast the truth. She symbolizes courage and truth, inspiring the next generation of women and freedom fighters.
Emily Lau, a former journalist and Legislative Council member, received a sentence of 4 years and 2 months. In prison, she taught English to other inmates to keep her will from being extinguished by oppression.
Joshua Wong, a well-known democracy activist, was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months. Last Tuesday in court, he shouted, “I love Hong Kong!” His unwavering love for Hong Kong still resonates in our hearts today.
Kenneth specially mentioned another sentenced Legislative Council member, Alvin Yeung, who he attended school with. “In 1989, we stood together at San Francisco City Hall for a vigil in memory of those who sacrificed and fought for freedom during the Tiananmen Square massacre.”
He expressed, “The same spirit continues in him and in the hearts of everyone here today. The ‘Hong Kong 47 case’ reminds us of the cost of freedom and the power of courage. Though they are imprisoned, their spirits remain free.”
Let us make a commitment to ourselves, to defend the dream of ‘Free Hong Kong’. Let us tell the world that we will not forget, we will not give up, we will never cease to fight for justice.
Ken Chan, the head of the Hong Kong Association in Northern California, spoke during the open mic session, delving into the history and political context behind the severe sentencing of Benny Tai to 10 years in prison.
He pointed out that after the 2019 “anti-extradition bill movement”, the government claimed to represent the will of the people of Hong Kong, but in reality, they did not. In the 2019 District Council elections, the democratic camp achieved a landslide victory, showing the true choice of the people. In the 2020 Legislative Council elections, Benny Tai’s “35+” strategy, aiming to veto the government’s budget by securing a majority of seats, was interpreted by the government as “subversion” and ultimately suppressed.
Ken Chan believes that the actions of the democratic camp were entirely in accordance with the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Constitution, but the authoritarian regime could not tolerate any checks and balances. The attempt by the democratic camp was to use the existing balancing power to compel the government to negotiate, reflecting the will of the people. However, this was unacceptable in the authoritarian Hong Kong under the Chinese Communist Party’s rule.
From the 1989 Chinese democracy movement to present-day Hong Kong, these efforts against authoritarianism are always suppressed. However, as seen in the protests in Belarus in 2020 and 2021, inspired by Hong Kong, the methods and spirit of resistance can transcend borders and continue to have an impact.
Before the end of the event, all participants sang “Glory to Hong Kong” together and chanted, “Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times, down with the CCP!”