June 30, 2020
The Hong Kong National Security Law was passed in China and took effect on the very same day.

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The law criminalized "subversion" of the regime. Its scope was broad and ambiguous; even the mere possession of pamphlets with pro-democracy slogans by ordinary Hong Kong citizens was deemed a "crime."

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Within days, a Chinese government security apparatus was established in Hong Kong. Intimidated, people voluntarily removed anything related to the protest movement from their homes and shops.

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​Pro-Beijing factions welcomed the passage of the law. Meanwhile, the dissidents who had once filled the streets of Hong Kong with protests all but vanished.

Beijing’s intent behind enforcing this law was fully realized. The hearts and minds of the people of Hong Kong became dominated by "fear." They began to censor their own speech and actions—not based on what was right or wrong, but on whether it might be deemed problematic by the government.

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A world where "fear" rules the human heart and dictates our words and actions is a world where human conscience is suppressed. We must never allow such a structure of dominance to blanket the earth.