Moolenaar Honors Joshua Wong for His Pro-Democracy Activism

Today, Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China honored Joshua Wong and sponsored him for the Defending Freedoms Project at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Congress. Wong has been imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party for his pro-democracy activism in Hong Kong continuously since 2020.

"Joshua Wong's courage and fortitude in speaking out against the CCP and its destruction of Hong Kong’s democracy is inspiring to all who work to promote freedom and liberty. We must do all we can to speak out for Joshua and work to secure his release from the CCP’s prisons,” said Moolenaar. "His case is also a reminder for all Americans that our values separate us from the CCP. Joshua is fighting for the universal truth that all people are endowed by our Creator to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is a foundational value of our country, and it is why the CCP has put Joshua in jail. He should be released immediately and allowed to reunite with his family.”

The Defending Freedoms Project (DFP), launched in 2012 by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission alongside several human rights organizations, supports prisoners of conscience worldwide by encouraging Members of Congress to advocate on their behalf. The coalition has since expanded to include the Senate Human Rights Caucus and a broad range of organizations, all working to highlight and stop human rights abuses.

A leading figure of the Umbrella Movement in 2014, and democracy protests in 2019, Wong celebrated his 30th birthday this week in prison. The CCP has tried Wong on numerous absurd charges and forced him to plead guilty in order to avoid a longer sentence. Wong is one of many Hong Kong activists who has been arrested under the CCP’s sweeping National Security Law.