Press Releases

Rep. James P. McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and a leading voice on behalf of human rights in the United States Congress, issued the following statement today in response to reports that Hong Kong democracy activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow are reportedly facing months of prison time for their participation in the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests:

“In recent days I’ve received a number of reports that Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow -- three brave democracy activists in Hong Kong – could be sentenced a second time on charges linked to their leadership of the Umbrella Protests in 2014. They’ve already been sentenced once for the ‘crime’ of ‘unlawful assembly,’ and completed their community service. But the Hong Kong Department of Justice decided to go after them again. If their new sentences are longer than three months, all three will be disqualified from running for political office for five years.

“Let’s be clear what’s going on here: this is a blatant attempt to undermine the democracy movement in Hong Kong. If the courts go through with this, everyone should understand that they are doing Beijing’s bidding – and making a mockery of rule of law in the process. Joshua, Nathan and Alex will become political prisoners, and China will once again demonstrate its total lack of regard for basic human rights.

“I hope the courts are wiser than this, but I fear they are not. The world is watching.”