While the NBA is being criticized for cozying up to Chinese Communists who are battling pro-democracy protesters in China, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, says China is trying to censor Americans from talking about the protests. The first-term Senator made the statements while in Hong Kong witnessing protesters rallying in the streets for democracy.
The demonstrators have been rallying for months against the Chinese Communist Party. Hawley says the government has used violent tactics against its own people risking their lives for their freedom.
This is the scene now in Hong Kong, where it is Sunday night. Protests in at least 18 places around the city. Significant show of police force. This is in the Mong Kok area pic.twitter.com/L8Y3r0NLBx
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 13, 2019
“Sometimes the fate of one city defines the challenge of a whole generation,” says Hawley. “Fifty years ago, it was Berlin. Today, it’s Hong Kong.”
Hawley, who was elected to the U.S. Senate last November in a landslide over Democrat incumbent Claire McCaskill, is sharing on Twitter some of what he’s viewing and is sending Hong Kong protesters a motivational message.
Another scene from last night in Hong Kong. Here protestors gather peaceably – pro-Hong Kong demonstrators dressed in all black pic.twitter.com/qXdM1u5hK6
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 13, 2019
“Free people everywhere are looking to you and your fight and your struggle and your battle for your basic liberties,” says Hawley.
Congress is expected to take up bipartisan bills this week that would protect the human rights of those in Hong Kong, potentially fueling tensions between the U.S. and China in their trade negotiations. According to Reuters, the Hong Kong Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 would also provide annual reviews of its economy and allow the U.S. to place sanctions on countries that threaten its independence. Hawley says he supports the legislation.
The two countries reached a preliminary trade agreement on Friday. The first phase includes 40 to 50 billion dollars in agriculture purchases over the next two years. President Trump also says additional tariffs that were to be implemented will not go into effect.
–Metro Voice and wire services
