2020 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders tweeted support for Hong Kong protests against China’s communist government power over the region Monday.
Hong Kong protesters are approaching their 12th consecutive week of demonstrations against an extradition bill that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to face trial in China, among other issues such as police brutality and the region’s “one country, two systems” arrangement.
“The demonstrations in Hong Kong are an inspiration to us all. It is the right of all people to protest for a better future,” the Vermont senator tweeted. “We stand with these brave protesters and call on the Chinese government to refrain from violence.”
WATCH:
The demonstrations in Hong Kong are an inspiration to us all. It is the right of all people to protest for a better future. We stand with these brave protesters and call on the Chinese government to refrain from violence. pic.twitter.com/4oESjzBmlw
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 19, 2019
China’s communist government-sponsored media outlets have been trying to portray the largely peaceful Hong Kong protests, which drew over 1.7 million people Sunday, as violent and dangerous to Chinese sovereignty, The Washington Post reported Monday. (RELATED: ‘The World Is Watching’: US Senators Warn China Against Military Crackdown In Hong Kong)
The Basic Law between Hong Kong and China gives Hongkongers “freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration,” as well as other rights. China, however, has condemned the demonstrations and threatened military intervention.
Some in the media have pointed out that some pro-democracy Hong Kong protesters have waved American flags during their demonstrations while U.S.-based, socialist Antifa protesters have waved Chinese flags during theirs.
Republican Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw tweeted a response to Sunday’s Antifa protest in Portland, Oregon, saying, “In Hong Kong, antifascists wave American flags, demand freedom and actually fight fascists. In Portland, ‘antifascists; burn American flags, demand violence in the name of socialism. Portland is a sad showing of where we are today. All around.”
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