JOSHUA WONG

Amid the ongoing pandemic and global unrest, earlier this month, we marked the one-year anniversary of the Hong Kong protest one that had started a chain of events such as global solidarity movements, many more mass demonstrations in the territory and the Chinese government cracking down on Hong Kong people.

The movement has proven one thing: Hong Kongers value their rights and freedoms more than anything. Many sacrificed their future or even their lives to fight for an ungraspable entity: freedom.

The story of the Hong Kong protest has marked the lives of many; it has changed our beliefs on how important democracy is. Indeed, there are also things that Hong Kong protesters can learn from the ongoing global Black Lives Matter solidarity protests.

On June 9, 2019, more than one million people went onto the streets of Hong Kong to demand the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill. The people of Hong Kong, including the territorys bar association, had used all of the means available to them, via petitions and protests, to thwart the passing of the bill.

Instead of withdrawing the bill or giving more time for reflection, the government insisted on pushing it through to a second reading at the legislative council at 11 p.m. on the day after the mass protest.

This fuelled the anger of the people and a protest two-million strong + 1 to remember one protester who had lost hope and committed sucide followed in late June, 2019.

Yet, in response, the Hong Kong government replied with police brutality and followed an ostrich policy. It spread propaganda against the protesters, instead of withdrawing the bill and setting up an independent inquiry committee to investigate police brutality.

Indeed, this matter has since then gone into a downward spiral, to the point where Beijing has bypassed the legislative council of Hong Kong to pass a national security law without any consultation.

Hence, the fall of the One Country, Two Systems policy that characterized Hong Kong.

Unfortunately, this has become an ongoing battle for Hong Kongers around the world, even if many have lost their homes and identities and soon emigrated.

Yet, during this movement, we have learned quite a bit among ourselves and others. We have learned that, no matter how wealthy Hong Kong is, freedom is priceless. We also learned that the rule of law and a credible police force matter, and democracy is important for it gives the people power to monitor and criticize their own government.

Without such checks and balances, we can see the consequences: no Hong Kong policemen were charged and dismissed because of their brutality, even though their actions were broadcast around the globe.

Indeed, as Hong Kong protesters became observers and allies during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, we saw how people stood valiantly together to fight for equity and equality. We also learned that the voices and actions of people could actually change the world. This power can make ill-behaved policemen face justice and promote a structural reform in society. This is the power of democracy, rights and freedoms.

This is also why these are priceless. Even though this might be our blindness and biases talking, it reminded us as Hong Kongers why we are still fighting, even though our cause has only a faint of hope of succeeding.

We urge all of you to continue to stand with us. Please continue to spread awareness via social media or write to your local member of Parliament about our situation, if you would. No matter how small in number we are and how far we are from Hong Kong here in Nova Scotia, please heed our call: cherish your voice and freedom while you still have it.

Joshua Wong lives in Halifax.

See the original post here:

JOSHUA WONG: From Hong Kong to Black Lives Matter unity against oppression and police brutality - TheChronicleHerald.ca