Joshua Wong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joshua Wong
黃之鋒
Wong in 2019
Secretary-General of Demosistō
In office 10 April 2016 – 30 June 2020
Deputy	Agnes Chow Kwok Hei-yiu Chan Kok-hin
Chairman	Nathan Law Ivan Lam
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Party dissolved
Convenor of Scholarism
In office 29 May 2011 – 20 March 2016
Deputy	Agnes Chow
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Merge into Demosistō
Personal details
Born	Wong Chi-fung (1996-10-13) 13 October 1996 (age 28) British Hong Kong
Political party	Demosistō (2016–2020)
Other political affiliations	Scholarism (2012–2016)
Education	Open University of Hong Kong
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	黃之鋒
Simplified Chinese	黄之锋
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Huáng Zhīfēng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Wòng Jīfūng Jyutping Wong4 Zi1fung1

Joshua Wong Chi-fung (Chinese: 黃之鋒; Cantonese Yale: Wòhng Jīfūng; born 13 October 1996) is a famous Hong Kong activist. He works for democracy, which means he wants people to have more say in how their government is run.

Joshua Wong was a leader of a student group called Scholarism. Later, he helped start a political group called Demosistō. This group worked for democracy until it closed down in 2020. This happened because of a new law called the Hong Kong national security law.

Wong became well-known around the world during the 2014 Hong Kong protests. These protests are also known as the Umbrella Movement. Because of his important role, Time magazine named him one of the Most Influential Teens in 2014. Fortune magazine also called him one of the "world's greatest leaders" in 2015. He was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

Joshua Wong has faced legal challenges because of his activism. He has been jailed several times for taking part in protests. He also worked to convince leaders in the United States to pass a law supporting human rights in Hong Kong.

Early Life and Education

Joshua Wong was born in Hong Kong on October 13, 1996. When he was young, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, which means he sometimes had trouble reading.

His parents, Grace and Roger Wong, raised him as a Protestant Christian. His father, who used to work in IT, often took him to help people in need. This helped Joshua become interested in helping others and speaking up for what is right.

Wong went to a Christian high school in Hong Kong. There, he learned how to organize groups and speak in public. He later studied politics at the Open University of Hong Kong. He took breaks from his studies to focus on his activism.

Student Activism (2010–2016)

Starting to Speak Up

Wong led a protest against Moral and national education in 2012

Joshua Wong first joined protests in 2010. These protests were about a new high-speed rail link in Hong Kong.

In 2011, Joshua Wong and his friend Ivan Lam started a student group called Scholarism. At first, they handed out flyers to protest a new school subject called "moral and national education." This subject was seen by some as trying to make students more loyal to mainland China.

Over time, Scholarism grew much bigger. In 2012, they organized a large protest with over 100,000 people. Joshua Wong became widely known as the leader of this group.

Role in the 2014 Umbrella Movement

Wong giving an interview in October 2014, during the Umbrella Movement

In 2014, Scholarism suggested ways to change Hong Kong's election system. They wanted people to have the right to directly choose their leaders. Joshua Wong also helped start a student class boycott. This was to send a message to Beijing about their desire for democracy.

On September 27, 2014, Wong was one of many people arrested during a large protest. Students had gathered in front of the government building to protest Beijing's decisions about Hong Kong's elections. Wong was held for 46 hours before being released.

During the protests, Wong said that the movement would end if Hong Kong's leader listened to their demands. He also said that people should not be afraid of their government.

Joshua Wong was later charged with blocking officials who were trying to clear a protest area. He said that police had treated him roughly during his arrest.

In December 2014, Wong and two other students started a hunger strike. They wanted the Hong Kong government to talk with them again. He stopped the hunger strike after four days because of medical advice.

After the Occupy Protests

In January 2015, Wong was arrested again for his role in organizing protests.

Later that year, a newspaper said that Wong had met with a US official. It suggested he had links to the US intelligence agency. Wong said these claims were completely false.

In May 2015, Wong was stopped from entering Malaysia. Officials said he was a "threat to Malaysia's ties with China" because of his pro-democracy views.

In June 2015, Wong and his girlfriend were attacked by an unknown man. They both had to go to the hospital.

In August 2015, Wong was officially charged with encouraging people to join an illegal gathering.

When he traveled to Taiwan for a talk, some people who supported China tried to attack him at the airport. Police had to protect him.

Detained in Thailand

In October 2016, Joshua Wong was held by officials when he arrived in Thailand. He was going to speak about the Umbrella Movement at an event.

A Thai student who invited Wong said that the Chinese government had asked Thailand about Wong's visit. After almost 12 hours, Wong was sent back to Hong Kong. He was told he was on a blacklist.

Many people, including a Hong Kong politician, criticized Thailand's actions. They said it showed how much Beijing could influence other countries. Wong later spoke to the Thai audience through a video call from Hong Kong.

Political Career (2016–2020)

Starting Demosistō

In April 2016, Joshua Wong started a new political party called Demosistō. He founded it with other student leaders like Agnes Chow. Scholarism, his old student group, was then closed.

Demosistō wanted a public vote to decide Hong Kong's future after 2047. This is when the "one country, two systems" rule, which gives Hong Kong special freedoms, is set to expire. Wong wanted to run for a seat in the Hong Kong legislature, but he was too young at 19. He tried to challenge the law that said candidates had to be at least 21.

Role in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong Protests

Wong speaks at the United States Capitol in 2019

Joshua Wong was released from jail just as new protests began in 2019. These protests were against a proposed law that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trials. Wong criticized the police and called for Hong Kong's leader to resign.

Wong explained that protesters broke into the Hong Kong parliament building because they felt the council was not chosen fairly by the people.

In August 2019, Wong was arrested again before a planned protest.

In September, Wong met with Germany's Foreign Minister. China's government said this was disrespectful and interfered in China's affairs.

Later that month, Wong spoke to US lawmakers in Washington, D.C. He asked the US Congress to pass a law supporting human rights and democracy in Hong Kong. China again said the US should not get involved in its affairs.

National Security Law and Demosistō's End

On June 30, 2020, a new national security law was put in place by China. This law made certain actions, like speaking out against the government, very risky. Because of this, Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Nathan Law announced they were leaving Demosistō. Hours later, Demosistō announced it was closing down all its activities.

2020 Election Attempt

In June 2020, Wong announced he would try to run for a seat in the Hong Kong legislature. He applied in July, but his application was rejected. He and 11 other pro-democracy figures were not allowed to run.

Other Activities

In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests in the United States, Wong supported the Black Lives Matter movement. He also spoke out against police actions in the US. At the same time, he criticized basketball player LeBron James for speaking about US issues but staying quiet about issues in China.

Imprisonments

Jail in 2017

Joshua Wong, along with Nathan Law and Alex Chow, was jailed for several months in August 2017. This was for their part in a protest at Civic Square in 2014. These sentences meant they could not run for public office for five years.

In October 2017, Wong was found guilty of not following a court order to clear a protest area in 2014.

In January 2018, Wong was sentenced to three months in jail for this. The judge said that by November 2014, the protests were only causing problems for "ordinary citizens."

Jail in 2019

Wong was sentenced to two months in prison in May 2019. This was for his involvement in protests in Mong Kok in 2014. He was released in June 2019, having already served some time related to this case.

Jail Starting in 2020

In September 2020, Wong was arrested again. He was charged with taking part in an illegal gathering in 2019 and breaking an anti-mask law. He was later released on bail but could not travel.

In November 2020, Wong, Ivan Lam Long-yin, and Agnes Chow Ting pleaded guilty to charges related to a protest in June 2019. They were held in custody until their sentencing. Wong said they were ready to go to jail and hoped it would show the world how Hong Kong's justice system was changing.

On December 2, 2020, Wong was found guilty of organizing and encouraging an illegal gathering. He was sentenced to 1 year and 1 month in prison. A human rights group, Amnesty International, said this sentence was a warning to anyone who criticized the government.

In January 2021, it was reported that Wong's family had moved to Australia.

Wong pleaded guilty to more charges in January 2021 for another protest in October 2019. In April 2021, he was sentenced to four more months in jail for this.

In May 2021, Wong received another ten-month jail sentence. This was for taking part in a gathering to remember the Tiananmen Square massacre in 2020. The judge said the sentence should stop others from doing similar things.

In April 2023, Wong was sentenced to three more months in prison. This was for sharing personal details of a police officer.

A book published in 2023 said that Wong had asked for political asylum in the United States in 2020. However, his request was reportedly denied.

International Reactions to the 2020 Imprisonment

United States

The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said China's sentencing of these young democracy activists was "appalling." She asked the world to speak out against it. US Senator Marsha Blackburn also said the sentence destroyed Hong Kong's freedom. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo also spoke out against the prison term.

United Kingdom

The UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab urged Hong Kong and Beijing to stop trying to silence those who disagree with them.

Japan

Japan's government spokesperson said they were "increasingly grave concerns" about the situation in Hong Kong, including the sentences against Joshua Wong and others.

Taiwan

Taiwan's government said that jailing Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam showed that the Hong Kong government was failing to protect people's rights and freedom of speech.

Germany

A spokesperson for Germany's foreign ministry said the prison terms were "another building block in a series of worrisome developments" regarding human rights in Hong Kong.

Jail Under National Security Law

On January 6, 2021, Joshua Wong was among 53 pro-democracy figures arrested under the national security law. They were accused of trying to overthrow the government by organizing primary elections in July 2020. Wong's home was searched during his arrest. In February 2021, Wong and 46 others were formally charged with subversion.

In 2024, a Hong Kong court sentenced Wong to 4 years and 8 months in jail for subversion under this law.

Books

• Unfree Speech: The Threat to Global Democracy and Why We Must Act, Now. With Jason Y. Ng. London: Penguin Books, 2020.

In the Media

Joshua Wong has been featured in several non-fiction films:

• Lessons in Dissent, 2014
• Umbrella Revolution: History as Mirror Reflection, 2015
• Raise the Umbrellas, 2016
• Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower, 2017
• Last Exit to Kai Tak, 2018

Awards

• The Times – Young Person of the year, 2014
• AFP – 10 Most influential people, 2014
• YAHOO Top Ten Search Ranking – No.1 (Hong Kong), 2014
• TIME – Person of the Year 2014 (Reader's Poll – 3rd place), 2014
• Foreign Policy – 100 Leading Global Thinkers, 2014
• TIME – The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014
• TIME Cover (Asia Edition), 2014
• Fortune – World's 50 Greatest Leaders (10th place), 2015
• Nobel Peace Prize 2018 nomination, with Nathan Law, Alex Chow and the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, by the United States' Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) (press release)

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See also

In Spanish: Joshua Wong para niños