PRESS RELEASE: Last night, on the eve of the Olympics, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong projected protest images on key buildings in three major cities. Projection sites include the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, NBC headquarters in New York City, and Tower Bridge in London
Tuesday 1st February – Last night, on the eve of the Lunar New Year and ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the NBC studios in the 30 Rockefeller Plaza building in New York City, the Chinese embassy in Washington DC and London’s Tower Bridge were lit up with images of imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, yellow umbrellas (the symbol for democracy in Hong Kong) and statements on the upcoming Games.
The images and slogans highlighted the hypocrisy of China hosting the Winter Olympic Games, which are supposed to promote unity, equality and respect. Meanwhile, the Chinese Government is currently committing crimes against humanity and genocide in the region of Xinjiang, enforcing harsh crackdowns on human rights defenders and people perceived to be dissidents in Hong Kong, as well as the systematic repression of ethnic minorities. The international community must not endorse China’s sportswashing.
The images and slogans highlighted the hypocrisy of China hosting the Winter Olympic Games, which are supposed to promote unity, equality and respect. Meanwhile, the Chinese Government is currently committing crimes against humanity and genocide in the region of Xinjiang, enforcing harsh crackdowns on human rights defenders and people perceived to be dissidents in Hong Kong, as well as the systematic repression of ethnic minorities. The international community must not endorse China’s sportswashing.
From top left, clockwise: Images from NBC headquarters in New York; Image from NBC headquarters in New York; Images from Tower Bridge in London and Image from NBC headquarters in New York
President of the CFHK, Mark L. Clifford, said:
“As a Committee we will not stop campaigning for Hong Kong and for the international community to stand up to China. We must show them that their behavior is seen and will not be tolerated. Sportswashing has become a tool used to distract onlookers from reputations of the foulest and most abhorrent attacks upon humanity, and China has become the latest to use such tool.
“While many in the international community have been staging their own protests in the lead up to the Games – such as the wearing of “Where is Peng Shuai?” t-shirts at the Australian Tennis Open – there has been radio silence from the International Olympic Committee. It is shocking that the Olympic organizers are remaining silent on the ongoing human rights abuses that the Chinese Communist Party is committing both at home and abroad.
“Just as the International Olympic Committee has failed to stand up to China for their behavior, so have the international sponsors of the Games. Household names such as Coca-Cola, AirBnb, Samsung, and Visa who follow their own ESG values and have run equality campaigns are sponsoring what many have labeled as the Genocide Games.
“As the Beijing Winter Olympics start on Friday, the world will be watching China and its actions both during and after.”
ENDS
About CFHK
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
E: media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk
“As a Committee we will not stop campaigning for Hong Kong and for the international community to stand up to China. We must show them that their behavior is seen and will not be tolerated. Sportswashing has become a tool used to distract onlookers from reputations of the foulest and most abhorrent attacks upon humanity, and China has become the latest to use such tool.
“While many in the international community have been staging their own protests in the lead up to the Games – such as the wearing of “Where is Peng Shuai?” t-shirts at the Australian Tennis Open – there has been radio silence from the International Olympic Committee. It is shocking that the Olympic organizers are remaining silent on the ongoing human rights abuses that the Chinese Communist Party is committing both at home and abroad.
“Just as the International Olympic Committee has failed to stand up to China for their behavior, so have the international sponsors of the Games. Household names such as Coca-Cola, AirBnb, Samsung, and Visa who follow their own ESG values and have run equality campaigns are sponsoring what many have labeled as the Genocide Games.
“As the Beijing Winter Olympics start on Friday, the world will be watching China and its actions both during and after.”
ENDS
About CFHK
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
E: media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk