Pro-democracy protesters held a Thanksgiving Day rally to thank the United States and President Trump for signing bills into law on Wednesday that support the demonstrators in their struggle against Beijing.
The bipartisan bills signed by the president impose sanctions on officials in Hong Kong and China that are responsible for human rights abuses. The bills also require an annual review of the special autonomous status the U.S. State Department grants to Hong Kong during trade considerations. The revocation of that status is a powerful tool to incentivize support of pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong. The legislation also bans the sale of crowd control munitions to Hong Kong that have been used by police against the protesters.
“I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China and the people of Hong Kong,” the president said in a statement after signing the bills. “They are being enacted in the hope that leaders and representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long-term peace and prosperity for all.”
On Thanksgiving Day, a large crowd of several thousand assembled to express gratitude for the show of support from the United States. The crowd sang the Star Bangled Banner as attendees waved American flags.