After pitched battle, Hong Kong police move on university campus, begin mass arrests

[jpak]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hong-kong-police-pummel-university-with-water-cannon-as-officer-hit-by-arrow/2019/11/17/f004c978-091f-11ea-8054-289aef6e38a3_story.html

HONG KONG — After an intense, day-long battle, police surrounded anti-government protesters inside a university late Sunday and began to make mass arrests, escalating the struggle over Hong Kong’s campuses in the city’s now-six-month struggle for democracy.

Skirmishes between police and protesters raged into the night outside Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, leaving the air thick with tear gas and a police vehicle burning.

As police continued to bombard protesters with water cannon, they warned stronger measures could follow.

“We will use the minimal force,” police said in a Facebook video. “We are asking the rioters to stop assaulting the police using cars, gas bombs and bows and arrows. Otherwise we will use force including live rounds.”

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[struggle4progress]

1. Trump and McConnell failing the people of Hong Kong

By Josh Rogin
November 7, 2019 at 4:35 p.m. EST

... These are the largest pro-democracy protests in a generation. But the U.S. Senate won’t pass a bill showing support for these brave souls, who are risking their lives in defense of the basic freedoms we promised to help them preserve.

The blame for Congress’s inaction lies with two men — President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — who have both helped to thwart progress of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, a bill that would bolster reporting on Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong and provide for sanctions against those responsible. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bill unanimously in September. The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill by voice vote last month.

Now, as Hong Kong protesters cry out for international support, specifically asking for Congress to pass this bill, there’s no signal it will reach the Senate floor any time soon. It’s not as though the Senate is busy doing other things. So why hasn’t McConnell acted? His office won’t comment ...

“The United States needs to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. We can stand with the people of Hong Kong and stand up for our trade and economic interests,” Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, told me. “I’m deeply concerned that the Trump administration once again appears to be willing to sell out the people of Hong Kong and their legitimate democratic aspirations” ...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trump-and-mcconnell-are-failing-the-people-of-hong-kong/2019/11/07/913af586-0193-11ea-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html

[crickets]

2. +1

eta: I want a real president again. I am so sick of the toddler in chief and his toady court.