January 07, 2021

Brown Statement Condemning Mass Arrests in Hong Kong

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) expected incoming Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today released a statement in light of the major crackdown on opposition figures in Hong Kong:


“I condemn the sweeping crackdown and mass arrests of innocent opposition figures by Hong Kong’s Chinese-backed security forces. These gross abuses of the internationally-recognized human rights and democratic freedoms of the people of Hong Kong must not stand. The Trump administration, which has for years had a feckless and ineffectual policy there, should follow the lead of incoming Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who today called these arrests “an assault on those bravely advocating for universal rights.” President Trump should lead an international effort to condemn the arrests, insist on the immediate release of those detained, and deploy the sanctions and other tools Congress has provided to respond forcefully against those responsible.”