Latest news with #studentProtest
CNA
a day ago
- Politics
- CNA
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong faces second charge under national security law
HONG KONG: Hong Kong authorities once again arrested prominent activist Joshua Wong on Friday (Jun 6) and charged him with conspiracy to collude with a foreign country under a Beijing-imposed national security law. Wong, 28, was originally set to be released in January 2027 from a 56-month jail sentence he is serving under the same law for conspiracy to commit subversion after he participated in an unofficial primary election. Taken to the West Kowloon magistrates' courts, Wong faced a new charge of conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security. The former student pro-democracy activist, who wore a blue shirt and appeared noticeably thinner than before, replied, "Understand", when the clerk read out the charge and details of the offence. Wong did not apply for bail, and the case was adjourned to Aug 8. Before returning to custody, he waved, shrugged, and shook his head in the direction of the public gallery. In a statement, Hong Kong's national security police said they had arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of the offence, as well as for "dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence". A charge sheet seen by Reuters accuses Wong of having conspired with exiled activist Nathan Law and others to ask foreign countries, institutions, organisations, or individuals outside China to impose sanctions or blockades. Such actions against Hong Kong or China, along with other hostile activities targeting them, took place in 2020, between Jul 1 and Nov 23, it added. The National Security Law, which punishes offences such as acts of subversion, collusion with foreign forces, and terrorism, with terms of up to life in jail, was imposed by Beijing on the former British colony in 2020. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the law is necessary to restore stability following anti-government protests in 2019.
ABC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Student activists say freedom of speech is under attack
When Finn Penter hung six posters outside a lecture theatre at his university, he had no idea it would lead to a formal reprimand. Finn, a member of the University of Western Australia's (UWA) student guild, hung the posters to alert others to changes in university regulations that he believes would limit students right to protest. The six posters bore the slogans "free speech is under attack" and "clubs are under attack". He is also a member of the Socialist Alternative and has been involved in pro-Palestinian activism on campus. "I think it's quite ludicrous that they're equating those acts with the act of expressing my political opinion." The UWA would not comment directly on Finn's disciplinary process, but in a statement a spokesperson said the use of posters and stickers on university buildings had always been restricted to the Guild area on campus. "Unfortunately, last year there was a notable lack of regard shown to the university, its grounds, and our buildings," the spokesperson said. "Our university security officers, who prioritise the safety of our students, were required on multiple occasions to divert resources to removing posters, chalk and stickers." Finn believes his disciplinary action is a sign of UWA cracking down on freedom on speech. Earlier this year the UWA also implemented a ban on student announcements before lectures. That ban has now been eased and students are able to make announcements if they have permission from the university. Other universities around the country are making similar changes. They come after Palestinian solidarity protests and encampments, but universities say the new rules are not specifically related to pro-Palestinian activism. Monash University in Melbourne implemented a new student code of conduct at the start of this year. The code included a clause which prevented students from acting in a way that would "adversely impact the reputation of the university". That reference to reputation has since been removed from the code. The new student code also prohibits students from disrupting "orderly conduct" of any university-related activity. A spokesperson for Monash said the university supports students academic freedom and freedom of speech. "The University developed the Student Code in consultation with student representatives and has continued to consult with student groups," the spokesperson said. "It was agreed that a previous reference to reputation in the Code was incorrectly included, and was then subsequently removed." Madi Curkovic, who is a member of the Monash Student Association, is worried the university is trying to stop students speaking out against the university. She has faced disciplinary action in the past for her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. "The question of having free and open discussions is something that should be part of university life … but there is a slow encroachment," she said. In the heart of Melbourne, students at the University of Melbourne have told triple j hack police have visited the homes of students involved in on campus activism. One student, who didn't want their name used, said the police visit left her scared she would get raided. The police visits related to a particular protest in the office of a University of Melbourne academic. Students, some of whom were masked and wearing keffiyehs, entered the office chanting and putting up stickers. The student protesters said they acted peacefully and entered the office during open office hours. But Steven Prawer, the academic involved, told triple j hack the protest was "frightening" and "intimidating". Victoria Police said officers attended the incident and moved students on, but did not confirm if investigations are still ongoing. A spokesperson for the University of Melbourne said the university was in regular contact with police to ensure campuses remain safe spaces for staff, students and visitors. "Where there are instances of unacceptable behaviour, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which, for actions that may be criminal, may involve referral to the police," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also said the university supports students right to protest and that since a ban on indoor protests was implemented in March, students and staff have reported feeling safer on campus. The University of Sydney is also considering changes to protest rules on campus. In January the university proposed banning lecturer announcements, mass emails and the display of banners without prior approval. The proposals were made in response to an external review of university regulations after last year's Palestinian solidarity encampments. The head of University of Sydney's Australasian Union of Jewish Students, Dror Liraz, told triple j hack she doesn't believe people's right to free speech is under attack. "The new guidelines aren't restricting anything, protests can still happen, and you can still protest whatever you like," she said. Dror, who was born in Israel, was part of a protest movement last year calling for the resignation of University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott. She said it has been incredibly difficult to be on campus over the past 12 months. "I'm struggling to keep up with work," Dror said. "I remember during the encampment when things were especially intense, I would just sit in front of the computer trying to write my assignments and just would not be able to. "I would not be able to think about anything else apart from the fact that there seems to be people at my university, who no matter how hard I try, just seem to hate me." Dror believes having some restrictions on how and when people can protest could help protect Jewish students. "If you think that antisemitism falls into your freedom of speech, then that's just blatant racism."
Associated Press
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
21 University of Washington students suspended for pro-Palestinian protest
SEATTLE (AP) — The University of Washington has suspended the 21 students arrested earlier this week for occupying an engineering building during a pro-Palestinian protest, the school announced Wednesday. The students who moved into the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building in Seattle on Monday evening demanding the school break ties with Boeing have also been banned from all UW campuses, according to a school statement. Thirteen people who were arrested but are not students have also been banned from the university's Seattle campus, it added. The school said the occupation resulted in 'significant damage' to the building and equipment housed in it. Multiple dumpsters were also set on fire outside the school. Boeing has donated over $100 million to UW since 1917, including $10 million for the engineering building, The Seattle Times reported. Boeing is a major supplier to the Israeli Defense Forces, and that country has received more military aid from the U.S. than any other country since World War II. The students who occupied the building unofficially renamed it after Shaban al-Dalou, a teenage engineering student who was killed along with his mother after an Israeli airstrike triggered an inferno outside of a Gaza hospital. Because of Boeing's donation, the aviation manufacturer was granted naming rights for the building's second level. The U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation Tuesday into the protest. 'The University values its long-standing partnership with the federal government,' the school said. 'We will cooperate with the Task Force's review and are confident that an evaluation will find we are in compliance with federal civil rights laws.' The federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism responded to the protests with a statement saying the university needs to follow up 'with enforcement actions and policy changes that are clearly necessary to prevent these uprisings moving forward.' School spokesperson Victor Balta said Thursday that the university initiated some changes in November that included tracking incidents of bias, antisemitism and Islamophobia, but recognized the need to continually improve. Some changes include adding a Title VI coordinator position, strengthening relationships with the Jewish community, improving bias incident reporting and response processes, and consolidating anti-discrimination compliance in a new Civil Rights Compliance Office. In March, the University's Board of Regents overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to divest from companies with ties to Israel, the school's statement said.
