THREAD: canadas freedom
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News Timeline
HONG KONG Freedom Faces Dark Days: Democratic Party Pressured to Disband
— The Democratic Party of Hong Kong, once a symbol of pro-democracy, is nearing its end. Co-founder Yeung Sum admitted the harsh truth as Chinese officials pushed for its disbandment. This marks a major blow to Hong Kong’s promised freedom and rights since the 1997 handover from Britain.
The 2019 protests led to a harsh crackdown, silencing voices through strict elections and media control. China’s national security law jailed some party members and shut down many civil groups. Yeung Sum showed his reluctance but urged members to support disbandment to avoid harsh penalties.
Party veteran Fred Li confirmed similar pressure from Chinese officials, hinting that joining future legislative elections would be impossible if they stayed active. Founding member Sin Chung-kai reported local warnings about potential fallout if the party continued existing.
The dissolution highlights a turning point in Hong Kong’s political scene as Beijing tightens its hold on the region’s autonomy and freedoms.
GREENLAND’S Center-Right Victory: A Bold Move For Freedom
— Greenland’s center-right opposition party claimed victory in a key parliamentary election on Tuesday. The election was shaped by U.S. President Donald Trump’s past annexation threat and growing local calls for independence from Denmark.
A January poll showed 85% of Greenlanders were against joining the United States, with nearly half seeing Trump’s interest as a threat. This feeling influenced the election results, showing strong resistance to foreign control.
The winning party’s pro-business approach appealed to voters wanting economic growth and freedom from Danish rule. This change is crucial for Greenland’s political scene and its future ties with global powers.
LEONARD PELTIER’S Defiant Fight for Freedom and Justice
— Leonard Peltier, now 80, remains defiant decades after a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation led to his imprisonment. Convicted for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents, he maintains his innocence despite serving a life sentence. President Joe Biden commuted his sentence, allowing him to serve the remainder under house arrest in North Dakota.
Peltier vows to continue fighting for Indigenous rights from his tribal homeland near the Canadian border. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life fighting for our people,” he declared in an interview with The Associated Press. His release marks a new phase in his activism amid ongoing political tensions affecting tribal nations and Indigenous peoples.
Born during a time of violent government-Indigenous conflicts, Peltier is no stranger to political volatility. He warns against threats posed by both far-right movements and federal policies targeting tribal lands’ resources. He believes that administrations like President Trump’s will pursue minerals and oil on these lands, continuing historical patterns of exploitation.
VP VANCE Slams Censorship: Defends Prayer Freedom In UK
— Vice President JD Vance has spotlighted the case of U.K. army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, arrested for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. Smith-Connor expressed surprise and gratitude on “Fox and Friends Weekend” after learning that Vance highlighted his situation internationally.
Smith-Connor was found guilty of breaking a local Public Spaces Protection Order nearly two years after his silent prayer outside an abortion facility. He was fined £9,000, about $11,330 USD, for his actions.
During the Munich Security Conference last Friday, Vance criticized what he called “Soviet”-style censorship in Europe. He used Smith-Connor’s case to champion free speech and religious liberty against increasing restrictions abroad.
TRUMP, MUSK, And Vance Defy Courts: A Bold Stand For Freedom
— Former President Donald TRUMP, Elon Musk, and Senator J.D. Vance are reportedly preparing to challenge court orders. Critics say Trump’s recent actions show defiance of judicial authority. This has sparked debate over the balance between executive power and judicial oversight.
Vance’s comments highlight possible tensions between court orders and executive power. The Supreme Court’s “political question doctrine” often avoids policy decisions or constitutional powers of other branches. This doctrine might shape how these challenges play out in politics.
Strategically suggesting defying court orders can serve political purposes without actual intent to do so. These tactics are common in Trump’s political career, drawing both support and criticism from different groups.
Senator Vance openly supported presidential defiance against certain court orders last year with a simple “Yup” to Politico. This stance highlights ongoing debates about the limits of executive authority in America today.
MOTHER’S Sacrifice: Hunger Strike for SON’S Freedom in Egypt
— Laila Soueif, a mathematician and political activist, is on day 129 of a hunger strike outside the British prime minister’s office. Her goal is to secure freedom for her son, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, imprisoned in Egypt. She believes sacrificing herself is the only way to highlight what she calls his unjust imprisonment.
Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a well-known pro-democracy activist, has been jailed for most of the past 14 years. His role in Egypt’s 2011 uprising led to repeated incarcerations. His latest offense was “liking” a Facebook post about torture in Egyptian prisons.
Abd el-Fattah has been detained since September 2019 and received a five-year sentence from an emergency security court. Despite his release date passing last September, authorities extended his detention until January 2027 by not counting pre-trial time served.
EU’S NEW SPEED Control Rules: Are They an Invasion of Driver Freedom?
— Starting July 6, 2024, all new cars and trucks sold in the European Union and Northern Ireland must be equipped with technology that alerts drivers when they exceed speed limits. This could mean audible warnings, vibrations, or even automatic slowing of the vehicle. The intention is to boost road safety by curbing high-speed accidents.
The United Kingdom has decided not to enforce this rule strictly. Although new vehicles will have intelligent speed assistance (ISA) installed, drivers can choose whether to activate it each day. ISA works by using cameras and GPS to recognize local speed limits and notify drivers when they are going too fast.
Should a driver ignore these warnings and continue speeding, ISA will take action by automatically reducing the car’s speed. This technology has been available as an option in certain car models since 2015 but became mandatory in Europe from 2022 onwards.
This move raises questions about personal freedom versus public safety benefits. While some see it as a necessary step towards reducing traffic accidents, others view it as an overreach into personal driving habits and choices.
OJ Simpson’s TWISTED Fate: From Freedom to Prison
— More than two decades after O.J. Simpson walked free in a murder case that grabbed headlines worldwide, a Nevada jury found him guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping. The conviction was for trying to take back personal items in Las Vegas. Some say the tough 33-year sentence at 61 years old was because of his earlier trial and his fame.
The trial in Los Angeles, coming after the Rodney King incident, ended with Simpson not guilty. But many think this result made his punishment for the Las Vegas crimes harsher later on. “Celebrity justice swings both ways,” said media lawyer Royal Oakes, pointing out how Simpson’s star status affected his legal troubles.
Released on parole in 2017 after nine years behind bars, Simpson’s journey is much different from his first trial’s verdict. His cases have started talks about how fame can tilt the scales of justice and possible jury bias due to race. These events show the tricky mix of fame, societal issues, and law in America.
Simpson’s story continues to be a powerful example of how celebrity can impact legal outcomes differently over time, raising questions about fairness and justice in high-profile cases.
TRUMP BACKLASH: Former Arkansas Governor Booed at Florida Freedom Summit Over Anti-Trump Remarks
— Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, was met with a chorus of boos during his speech at the Florida Freedom Summit. This strong reaction from the crowd was triggered when Hutchinson hinted that Donald Trump could potentially face a felony conviction by a jury next year.
Having served as both a federal prosecutor and representative, Hutchinson is currently not making any waves in the Republican primary race with his polling numbers flatlining at zero percent. His remarks sparked widespread disapproval among the more than 3,000 attendees present at the event.
Despite facing an unfavorable response from his audience, Hutchinson didn’t back down. He maintained that Trump’s potential legal troubles could sway independent voters’ view of the party and influence down-ticket races for Congress and Senate.
CANADA’S Wonderland Terrifying Ordeal: Guests Trapped Upside Down on Thrill Ride
— A delightful evening took a shocking turn at Canada’s Wonderland amusement park over the weekend. Visitors experienced a chilling ordeal, finding themselves trapped upside down on the “Lumberjack” ride for an extended period of nearly 30 minutes.
The ride malfunctioned and became inverted at 10:40 p.m. local time on Saturday, as confirmed by park officials. By 11:05 p.m., all thrill-seekers were safely evacuated and checked by First Aid staff before being allowed back into the park.
Two guests reported experiencing chest pain but were evaluated without requiring further medical intervention. Spencer Parkhouse, an 11-year-old rider, shared his fears with CBC News, wondering if he would ever be right-side up again.
CANADA’S FREEDOM Convoy Trial Begins: Unmasking the Controversial Protest Tactics
— The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, organizers of Canada’s Freedom Convoy, commenced on Tuesday. Prosecutors are focusing not on political ideologies but on the protest methods used.
Lich and Barber were arrested in February 2022 following nearly a month of protests in Ottawa. The demonstrators demanded the termination of federal mask and vaccine mandates amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics suggest that their actions extended beyond health measures to challenge the broader Liberal Canadian government.
Throughout their protest, truckers remained stationed outside Canada’s Parliament building, a move city officials labeled as an “occupation”. Over a 13-day trial (with an additional six days in October), The Crown Prosecution will argue that these gridlock tactics constituted dangerous action.
Alongside other organizers, Lich and Barber face charges including mischief, counseling others to commit mischief, intimidation and obstructing police. This case represents a pivotal point in evaluating how society perceives and conducts protests.
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UK-CHINA Relations SHAKEN by Jimmy Lai’s Detention: A Fight for Freedom
— The detention of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist and founder of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily, has sparked global outrage. As a British citizen held under Hong Kong’s national security law since 2020, his case strains UK-China relations. Critics argue the law stifles dissent and undermines freedoms promised under the “one country, two systems” framework.
Sebastien Lai, Jimmy’s son, calls for stronger British government action for his father’s release. However, the UK faces criticism for its cautious approach to avoid escalating tensions with China. International pressure mounts as figures like Boris Johnson and human rights groups demand Lai’s freedom, highlighting broader concerns over China’s human rights record.
The UK’s strategic considerations complicate its response to Lai’s detention. While committed to human rights, the UK values economic ties with China as a major trading partner. This balancing act draws criticism and questions about the moral implications of its foreign policy amid human rights challenges in Hong Kong.
Activists continue organizing rallies to keep Jimmy Lai’s plight in public view and pressure international players for his release. His case symbolizes the larger struggle for freedom in Hong Kong and tests global resolve against authoritarianism. The world watches closely as this situation unfolds on the international stage.
