7 convicted in Hong Kong over 2019 pro-democracy protests
HONG KONG — Seven pro-democracy advocates were convicted Thursday for organizing and participating in an unlawful assembly during massive anti-government protests in 2019, as Hong Kong continues its crackdown on dissent.
The seven activists include media tycoon and founder of the Apple Daily tabloid Jimmy Lai, as well as 82-year-old Martin Lee, a veteran of the city’s democracy movement. Lai had already held without bail on other charges related to his pro-democracy activities.
The group of activists were convicted for their involvement in a protest held on Aug. 18, 2019. Organizers of the protest say that 1.7 million people marched that day in protest of a proposed bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China for trial.
Ahead of the trial, supporters and some of the defendants gathered outside court, shouting slogans like “Oppose political persecution” and “Five demands, not one less,” in reference to demands by pro-democracy supporters that include amnesty for those arrested in the protests as well as universal suffrage.