Hong Kong police arrest democracy activists, media tycoon

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ZEN SOO

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police arrested at least 14 veteran pro-democracy lawmakers, activists and a media tycoon on Saturday on charges of joining unlawful protests last year calling for reforms.

Among those arrested were 81-year-old activist and former lawmaker Martin Lee and democracy advocates Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan and Au Nok-hin.

Police also arrested media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who founded the local newspaper Apple Daily.

Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan and Yeung Sum — a former lawmaker from the Democratic Party — were charged in February over their involvement in a mass anti-government demonstration on Aug. 31 last year. The protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory against proposed extradition legislation exposed deep divisions between democracy-minded Hong Kongers and the Communist Party-ruled central government in Beijing.



Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, center, who founded local newspaper Apple Daily, is arrested by police officers at his home in Hong Kong, Saturday, April 18, 2020. Hong Kong police arrested at least 14 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists on Saturday on charges of joining unlawful protests last year calling for reforms. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)


Read more: https://apnews.com/cd48443b426c63490a169cb2d5b097dc

[47of74]

1. That's coming attractions for here I'm afraid

I can see the current crisis being exploited for people on both sides of the political spectrum to use emergency powers and the like to wipe their asses with the United States Constitution. I can easily see the restrictions on gathering going on for many years after the virus is gone with our side conditioned to look down their noses at people who want to gather.

Here in Iowa I think if her GPP handlers tell her to Kimmy will find an excuse to clamp down on the rights of people way beyond what should even be tolerated.