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Tens of thousands of protestors filled the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday as Chinese President Hu Jintao swore in Hong Kong's new leader Leung Chun-ying, 57, now Hong Kong's third 'chief executive'.
Tens of thousands of protestors filled the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday as Chinese President Hu Jintao swore in Hong Kong's new leader Leung Chun-ying, 57, now Hong Kong's third 'chief executive'.
Much of the protester's anger revolves around growing economic inequality, flawed democratic procedures, and a political system plagued by corruption in Hong Kong. The position of 'chief executive' is not democratically elected by the 3.4 million registered voters, but selected by a 1,200-seat committee of business elites, according to Associated Press.
Before being restrained by security officials, a pro-democracy protester interrupted the leader's ceremony, waving a small flag and yelling slogans calling for China's leaders to condemn the brutal June 4, 1989, crackdown on protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Today marked the 15th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to Beijing's control from British rule. Organizers' estimates put the crowd at 400,000, their largest claimed turnout for eight years.
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Pro-democracy protesters march in the streets urging new Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying to step down, during the 15th anniversary of the territory's handover to China, in Hong Kong July 1, 2012. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu)
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Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Tens of thousands of protestors filled the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday as Chinese President Hu Jintao swore in Hong Kong's new leader Leung Chun-ying, 57, now Hong Kong's third 'chief executive'.
Much of the protester's anger revolves around growing economic inequality, flawed democratic procedures, and a political system plagued by corruption in Hong Kong. The position of 'chief executive' is not democratically elected by the 3.4 million registered voters, but selected by a 1,200-seat committee of business elites, according to Associated Press.
Before being restrained by security officials, a pro-democracy protester interrupted the leader's ceremony, waving a small flag and yelling slogans calling for China's leaders to condemn the brutal June 4, 1989, crackdown on protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Today marked the 15th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to Beijing's control from British rule. Organizers' estimates put the crowd at 400,000, their largest claimed turnout for eight years.
* * *

Pro-democracy protesters march in the streets urging new Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying to step down, during the 15th anniversary of the territory's handover to China, in Hong Kong July 1, 2012. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu)
# # #
Tens of thousands of protestors filled the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday as Chinese President Hu Jintao swore in Hong Kong's new leader Leung Chun-ying, 57, now Hong Kong's third 'chief executive'.
Much of the protester's anger revolves around growing economic inequality, flawed democratic procedures, and a political system plagued by corruption in Hong Kong. The position of 'chief executive' is not democratically elected by the 3.4 million registered voters, but selected by a 1,200-seat committee of business elites, according to Associated Press.
Before being restrained by security officials, a pro-democracy protester interrupted the leader's ceremony, waving a small flag and yelling slogans calling for China's leaders to condemn the brutal June 4, 1989, crackdown on protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Today marked the 15th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to Beijing's control from British rule. Organizers' estimates put the crowd at 400,000, their largest claimed turnout for eight years.
* * *

Pro-democracy protesters march in the streets urging new Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying to step down, during the 15th anniversary of the territory's handover to China, in Hong Kong July 1, 2012. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu)
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