Latest news with #Activism
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hong Kong activist challenges China's Tiananmen taboo from exile in Taiwan
By Angie Teo TAIPEI (Reuters) -Fu Tong and his wife Elaine To were among the first demonstrators in Hong Kong to be charged with rioting in 2020 after pro-democracy and anti-China protests started in 2019 in the former British colony. After leaving for Taiwan, Fu continued his activism and is now preparing to mark this year's anniversary of Beijing's bloody June 4, 1989, crackdown on protesters in and around Tiananmen Square. Fu has co-hosted a Hong Kong human rights exhibition in Taipei, showcasing artwork from the protest movement, and leads guided tours of the displays. "When Hong Kong can no longer hold the June 4 vigils, and can no longer even mention it, Taiwan's existence becomes very important," Fu, 43, told Reuters in Taipei. "It's one of the very few places in Asia, where people can openly commemorate the accident on June 4, discuss it, and even condemn the Chinese Communist Party. The existence of such a space is already hugely significant," he said. Taiwan is the only part of the Chinese-speaking world where June 4 can be remembered openly, though Chinese communities in the United States, Britain, Australia and other Western countries will also mark it. In Hong Kong, a national security law has outlawed such events, which previously drew tens of thousands of people. Fu says he remains committed to advocating for Hong Kong issues and the values of freedom. "I really feel like I've been chosen to be in this era. If I don't step up to do things that seem foolish and unrewarding, then who will? As long as I can, I'm willing to keep going," he said. Before dawn on June 4, 1989, Chinese tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square, crushing weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers. China has never provided a full death toll, but rights groups and witnesses say the figure could run into thousands. Public discussion of what happened is taboo in China, which blamed the protests on counter-revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the ruling Communist Party.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Gerlin Bean obituary
My friend Gerlin Bean, who has died aged 85, was a leading light of the British Black feminist movement. A founding member of OWAAD (Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent), she was an effective and persuasive organiser, fiercely committed to empowering her community. Also a founder member in 1973 of the Brixton Black Women's Group, Gerlin remained a key figure in the south London area for the next decade. She helped set up Sabaar Books, one of the first Black bookshops in Brixton, in the late 1970s, and, as a guidance counsellor at Brixton College, was instrumental in securing creche facilities there that allowed countless women to gain access to further education. Prior to that, she had helped establish the WIPAG (West Indian Parents' Action Group), which provided nursery facilities and early years' education for working mothers in Lambeth. Hers was one of two lone Black faces at the first Women's Liberation Conference in Oxford in 1970. Gerlin was a committed Marxist whose activism encompassed Black, gay and women's liberation. As such, her politics were genuinely intersectional. Born in Hanover, Jamaica, she was the third of the seven children of Ralph Bean, a farmer, and his wife, Melgata (nee Spence). After completing her secondary education at Manning's school in Westmoreland, Gerlin travelled to the UK aged 18 to train as a nurse at Bethnal Green general hospital, and transferred to Warlingham Park psychiatric hospital in Surrey in 1961. However, her experience of racism on the wards combined with single parenthood following the birth of her daughter, Jennifer, led to a growing political consciousness, and in the late 60s she left nursing and began youth work in the Seventies Coffee Bar on the Harrow Road. Her commitment to ensuring young Black people had a future earned her instant respect. After gaining a degree in social science and administration at the London School of Economics (1978), Gerlin began working at Brixton College. In 1983, she left Britain to work for the CIIR (Catholic Institute of International Relations) in the newly independent Zimbabwe, where she helped organise volunteer doctors and teachers. After returning to Jamaica in 1987, she played an increasingly influential role as director of 3D Projects, an organisation in Spanish Town dedicated to supporting and empowering young people with disabilities. In 1997 she became the chair of Children First Agency in Jamaica, and remained a board member until 2019. She returned to the UK in 2020 to live with Jennifer. I am one of many women who would describe Gerlin as both a mentor and a role model in those early days of the Black British civil rights movement. Our mutual involvement with the Black Liberator journal in the mid-70s, and with OWAAD, from its founding in 1975, led to a close and enduring friendship. A book, Gerlin Bean: Mother of a Movement, by AS Francis, was published in 2023. Jennifer survives her, as do two grandchildren, Junior and Sharleen.
Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Protesters call for end to Gaza war outside Harvard commencement
NewsFeed Protesters call for end to Gaza war outside Harvard commencement Protesters held a silent vigil outside Harvard University's commencement ceremony, demanding an end to US support for Israel's war on Gaza. The demonstration came amid rising political pressure, as the Trump administration targets pro-Palestinian activism with deportation threats.
Daily Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Telegraph
‘You're a nobody': Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in hotel confrontation
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News. Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has told an Aboriginal activist and mother of seven she is 'nobody' after the woman confronted her in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel in Adelaide. The extraordinary scene unfolded in Adelaide on Thursday night as Senator Nampijinpa Price, who is tipped to run for the position of the Liberal Party's deputy leader, checked into the hotel on her way to Canberra. As she tried to do so, she was confronted by a group of activists and protesters. In the video, Aboriginal activist Marianne Mackay, 47, a Noongar woman from Kwinana south of Perth, shouted repeatedly at the Northern Territory Senator. 'You might be a Senator but you are not respected by your own people … your people don't love you'. As she walks away, Senator Price tells the woman, 'you're a nobody' and 'I don't care.' The video was first reported by The Australian newspaper's Paige Taylor. It shows Senator Nampijinpa Price checks into the hotel and continues to walk away into the hotel lifts. 'She told me I was a nobody, belittling me, yeah, it's like, I work hard for our community, like my elders,'' Ms Mackay told 'And I have a lot of respect for my elders and to me, the respect and the permission for my elders and my people to speak means more to me than any government labelled like her. 'Being a senator, being a senator is nothing to me. I would rather have the respect and love and permission of my people to stand up and be a voice for us than have any government. 'And so when, when I saw her there, and she said, you know that Noongars have no law and culture. So I said to her, 'Well, actually, we very strong in culture.'' Noongar is a term referring to the Aboriginal people of the south-west region of Western Australia. During a recent visit to WA, local activists said that the person who invited Senator Nampijinpa Price to Bunbury should have contacted local Noongar Elders. Marianne Mackay, 47, a Noongar woman from Kwinana south of Perth Ms Mackay told Senator Nampijinpa Price called her a 'nobody'. 'We're not very happy how that came about it, of us being notified by media and not in person,' Ms Williams said. 'If you're coming on someone else's boundaries in different areas, the right thing by us Aboriginal people is to make sure you are welcome on that land, and not to just show up and making these decisions and actions that she is causing in our communities.' Ms Mackay was an instigator of the 2012 protest outside The Lobby restaurant in Canberra on Australia Day 2012 that prompted police to escort Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard before Australia's first female prime minister lost her shoe in the melee. She is now studying law at Murdoch University and is the chair of an Aboriginal health organisation. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is bundled out of a restaurant by security service agents after it was surrounded by furious Aboriginal rights protesters in Canberra on January 26, 2012. Mackay was one of the instigators. Picture: AAP / Lukas Coch As a Country Liberal Party member from the Northern Territory, Senator Price has the choice of whether she sits in the Nationals or the Liberals party room but her big call this week to now sit with the Liberals has caused a massive blow up. Asked if she planned to put her hand up for the leadership team - such as running as Angus Taylor's deputy - she refused to telegraph her plans. 'Look, I'm not going to speculate on that right now,' MsSenator Nampijinpa Price told 2GB's Ben Fordham. 'This is a huge step that I have undertaken. I've been welcomed by Sussan Ley to the Liberal Party room, which I'm very grateful for. 'All kind of speculation is running rife.' But when asked whether she would one day consider leading the Liberal Party, Senator Nampijinpa Price refused to rule it out. 'Well, that's a huge ask, a massive ask,'' she said. 'I certainly need to learn the ropes. Each day, the step that I take is looking at how do we espouse Australian what is it the Australian people need and are asking for.' Senator Nampijinpa Price said she spoke to her party president, National Party senate colleagues and Nationals leader David Littleproud, before the move. NT Senator Jacinta Price at the CLP after-party at the Alice Springs Brewing Co on the day of the federal election, May 3, 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov 'I wanted to do it in a respectful way,' she said. 'So I did speak to my colleagues. I even spoke to Sussan Ley as well.' Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has strongly backed the move. 'He's explained to me that he supports that move. Tony has always been encouraging and supportive of me and of my mother,' she said. 'But to those who want to suggest he's running the show...'' Senator Price started before insisting that was not the case. Jacinta Price emerges as shock candidate for deputy The prominent anti-Voice campaigner dropped a bombshell on Thursday revealing that she will move to sit with the Liberal Party in an effort to 'rebuild' the party after a blustering election loss. 'I am eager to fight for the best interests of all Australians as part of the Coalition,' Senator Nampijinpa Price said in a statement. 'I believe I will be more effective in this regard if I am a member of the Liberal Party, especially as the party faces a significant rebuild after Saturday. (FILES) Shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (R) and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton attend a press conference following the results of Australia's historic Indigenous rights referendum, in Brisbane on October 14, 2023. Australia holds a general election May 3, 2025, a hard-fought contest between party leaders with sharply contrasting visions for the country. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP) 'I want to bring back our core values of liberty, individual freedom and responsibility, the rule of law, free market and economic prosperity, minimal government intervention, a fair go and most of all, love for our nation, Australia.' As a Country Liberal senator from the Northern Territory, she has the choice whether to sit in the party room of the Liberal Party of the Coalition partner the Nationals. Traitor attack While her defection is a huge coup for the Liberals her move has enraged the Nationals who called it the act of a 'traitor'. The Nationals are already set to lose their deputy leader Perin Davey after the election result and the defection could mean the party loses its 'major party status' in the Senate. 'By doing this Jacinta is the Lidia Thorpe of the Coalition … before the votes are even counted, she's switched to another side,' Nationals Senator Matt Canavan told The Daily Telegraph. '(Senator Nampijinpa Price) has disenfranchised the voter, disappointed the members of the Country Liberal Party, she used Nationals Party funds to elect herself and before she's even elected she's turned around. 'It's a traitorous act.' Nationals Senator Matt Canavan labelled Senator Nampijinpa Price's move a 'traitorous act'. While it isn't clear yet she is running on a ticket with Liberal Angus Taylor, Mr Taylor quickly moved to note he was 'delighted' by Senator Nampijinpa Price's decision describing her as a 'tireless advocate for Liberal values and a good friend'. 'Jacinta will be another strong voice at a time the Liberal Party must rebuild,' he posted on Twitter. Senator Price and abortion stance Last year, senior Coalition women rebuked Senator Nampijinpa Price's comments about abortion after she suggested she cannot support any abortion over 12 weeks of gestation. Sussan Ley, Jane Hume and Bridget McKenzie – three of the most senior female members of the Liberal and National parties – warned that a 'Coalition government has no plans, no policy and no interest in unwinding women's reproductive rights'. Senator Nampijinpa Price has told the Nine newspapers she 'cannot agree' with later term abortions, which she claimed was 'anywhere past the (first) trimester as far as I'm concerned … Full-term becomes infanticide'. Liberal MPs welcome Senator Price Moments following her statement, prominent Liberal senator James Paterson, who is regarded as an ally of Mr Taylor in the leadership tussle, welcomed the switch. It's been speculated Senator Nampijinpa Price could run on a ticket with Liberal Angus Taylor. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer 'Delighted by friend @jacintanampijinpa has joined the @liberalaus. Welcome home Jacinta!' he posted on Instagram. But the decision has clearly angered Nationals Leader David Littleproud. 'The Nationals negotiated an extra position in the Shadow Cabinet before the election, to give Senator Nampijinpa Price a promotion and Shadow Ministerial opportunity,' Mr Littleproud said. 'The Nationals were the first to lead the 'No' case in relation to the Voice, backing Senator Nampijinpa Price early and before anyone else did. 'I appreciate Senator Nampijinpa Price has ambition that extends beyond the possibilities of The Nationals and I wish her well. 'The Liberals will need to rebuild after Saturday's election and Senator Nampijinpa Price will play a key role in that recovery, while The Nationals are proud to have kept all of our Lower House seats.' Co-ordinated attacks on Angus Taylor The fight between Ms Ley and Liberal Party treasury spokesman Angus Taylor erupted on election night with her supporters slamming him as 'an absolute disaster'. While the contest in theory isn't a factional fight, Mr Taylor is associated with the right faction and Ms Ley the Centre Right led by powerbroker Alex Hawke. Mr Taylor, though, may have a harder time, with one colleague blasting his performance as the opposition's numbers man. 'I have concerns about his capability,' Liberal senator Hollie Hughes told the ABC on Monday. Originally published as 'You're a nobody': Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in hotel confrontation
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump to raise Hong Kong Jimmy Lai case in China trade talks
HONG KONG (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would raise the case of jailed Hong Kong activist and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai as "part of the negotiation" with China over trade and tariffs, a move that could further stoke tensions with Beijing. "I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea," Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday. "We'll put it down, and we'll put it down as part of the negotiation." Top senior U.S. officials are due to meet with China's top economic official on Saturday in Switzerland, a fledgling step amid a trade war stemming from Trump's often chaotic tariff policies that have hurt the global economy and roiled markets. Trump, however, said he wasn't willing to cut Chinese tariffs to get Beijing to the negotiating table. Adding Jimmy Lai's case into the mix -- long a diplomatic friction point between the two sides -- could bring further complications. "Look, they (China) want to make a deal so badly. That, I can tell you. But we've been talking," Trump said during the radio interview. The trial of Lai -- a longstanding critic of the Chinese Communist Party -- has shone a spotlight on a sweeping crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong following China's imposition of a national security law (NSL) in 2020. Countries such as the U.S. and Britain have called for Lai's release and say his trial amounts to political persecution. Beijing rejects these claims and says Lai is getting a fair trial under the NSL, which it says has brought stability to Hong Kong after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. Lai, 77, the most high-profile China critic to face prosecution under the NSL, has pleaded not guilty to his charges including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. Lai, who is founder of the Apple Daily newspaper that was forced to close after a police raid and asset freeze in June 2021, rejects allegations by the prosecution that he had lobbied the U.S. to impose sanctions on Hong Kong. Before being elected, Trump pledged last year to "one hundred percent" get Lai out of China. Lai's son, Sebastien said his father's health has declined during harsh, solitary confinement. In January former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, speaking at an investor forum in Hong Kong, called on Beijing to "send a message of goodwill" to the U.S. by freeing Lai.
