Hong Kong freedom activist Joshua Wong has plead guilty under British Common law to charges stemming from the freedom movement’s protests and activities in the island city over the past year. The charge carries a maximum 5 year prison sentence, but according to the journalist in the clip below, it seems unlikely that he will receive the full term. It is believed these activists plead guilty in order to avoid being charged under Communist China’s new security powers which includes secret court proceedings.
In the clip below, a defiant Wong states:
“No arbitrary power will stop us from activism… We are explaining to the world about freedom through compassion, which we love so much so that we are willing to sacrifice the freedom of our own… May God Bless Hong Kong and we will continue to fight for freedom and now is not the time to kowtow to Beijing, and to surrender.”
Joshua Wong, Hong Kong Freedom Fighter
Wong sprung to prominence after his freedom activism was covered in the acclaimed film, Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower, which documented what happens when the Chinese Communist Party backtracked on its promise of autonomy to Hong Kong, and teenager Joshua Wong decided to save his city. Rallying thousands of kids to skip school and occupy the streets, Joshua became an unlikely leader in Hong Kong and one of China’s most lauded dissidents.
You can read my take on past Hong Kong freedom activism here.
If you are looking for more pro-freedom documentaries, start here with 7 Documentaries to Make You Go Hmm.