URGENT ACTION: U.S. Must Demand Hong Kong Drop Charges Against 47 Pro-Democracy Candidates

Please sign Petition below:

Please sign this petition by clicking on this link:
http://chng.it/Dz4Hgg6F
On February 28th, 2021, 47 Hong Kong democrats and activists have been charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the National Security Law (NSL).  All 47 detainees are pro-democracy legislators and activists involved in the unofficial primaries prior to last year’s legislative council election. They include the organizers of the primaries and candidates on the ballots, among them Joshua Wong (黃之鋒) is already serving a sentence in prison, Ted Hui (許智峯) and Sunny Cheung (張崑陽) have been forced into exile. The primaries, a de facto opinion poll, which aimed to coordinate candidacies between electoral districts is a legal practice.

However, since the imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong by the government of China, such action is now deemed as an act of subversion and used as a pretext to mass arrest and detention of Hong Kong democrats.  It is yet another brutal assault on human rights, freedom and democracy of Hong Kong in flagrant violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

We the undersigned unequivocally condemn the suppression and persecution of Hongkongers by the government of China.  We call upon our government to stand with Hong Kong and take concrete actions.

We ask that you urge the U.S. Olympic Committee to have the International Olympic Committee move the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing.

We ask that not only do the U.S. continue to sanction those Hong Kong officials who are already under U.S. sanction but also to extend sanctions to other Hong Kong officials who defended and excused such repression.
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PRESSRELEASE: GLOBAL ACTION FOR A FREE BURMA

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PLEASE JOIN US: Visual Artists Guild will participate in the Global Action with a Caravan

WHAT: On February 1, Myanmar (formerly called Burma) military seized power from the ruling NLD (National League for Democracy).
              This is a call for Global Action For Free Burma around the world to demand China stop its support of the Myanmar military junta.
              China has vetoed a UN statement condemning the military coup.
              Visual Artists Guild will participate in the global action with a caravan going to the China Consulate.
WHEN:   Saturday, February 20, 2021, 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Caravan will leave at 11:00 a.m. from Los Angeles State Historical Park near Chinatown and
                 arriving at the China Consulate at 443 Shatto Place.
                 See direction and map below.
Caravan Direction: Meet at Los Angeles State Historical Park parking area.
                 1545 N. Spring St., Los Angeles 90012 (corner of Sotello st.)
                  Caravan will begin at 11:00 a.m.
                  Go South on N Spring St.; Right on College St; Left on Broadway;
                  Right on 1st St.; Left on Grand;
                  Right on Wilshire; Right on Vermont; Right on 6th;
                  Right on Shatto Place. 
                  Please wear face mask and observer social distance when outside of the car.  
                  Please print out (and enlarge if possible) the attached signs and paste on each side of your car.
                  Also in the front and the back as well if possible. 

Background Information:
                 On February 1, 2021, the military of Myanmar (formerly called Burma) staged a coup and arrested the democratically elected members of the ruling party including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, cabinet ministers, state and region chief ministers, party leaders . 
                 The election in 2020 gave the National League for Democracy (NLD) 396 out of 476 seats in parliament.  The coup happened the day before the Parliament of Myanmar was due to swear in the elected members of that election.  The army claimed the vote was fraudulent.
                  Since the coup, citizens in Myanmar have taken to the streets in protests with labor strikes, civil disobedience with a three finger salute symbol of protest.  The military had since blocked the internet, beside arresting the politicians from the NLD, the military also arrested journalists and celebrities.
                  Gun shots have been reported and the military has increasingly using violent tactics on the protesters.
 Information on Global Action:
                  Ii Maung: 310-753-3467
 Information on Visual Artists Guild Caravan to Consulate:
                 Ann Lau 310-433-0697
                 Visual Artists Guild is a non-profit organization which supports the right of freedom of speech and expression.
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