On the day after hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers took to the street to protest against a controversial extradition bill, Hong Kong’s most famous activist was released from prison.
Following his release on Monday morning, 22-year-old Joshua Wong, the face of Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Revolution, called on Chief Executive Carrie Lam to resign, called for the extradition bill to be withdrawn, and expressed his appreciation for the protesters as well as the support they have received from all around the globe.
Wong was released early, serving only one month of a two-month prison sentence he received after being charged with contempt of court for refusing to leave a protest site during the 2014 movement.
Here is the moment of his release:
HK protest leader Joshua Wong is released from prison. #HongKongextraditionbill #HongKong #HongKongprotests #JoshuaWong pic.twitter.com/65ONRLQPYw
— Joyce Liu (@JoyceLiu66) June 17, 2019
And his tweet to celebrate the occasion:
Hello world and hello freedom. I have just been released from prison. GO HONG KONG!! Withdraw the extradition bill. Carrie Lam step down. Drop all political prosecutions!
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 (@joshuawongcf) June 17, 2019
After getting out of jail, Wong gave interviews in three languages, Cantonese, English, and Mandarin. His move to speak Mandarin is seen as a nod to Taiwan.
Below you can watch his interview with CNN:
After talking with reporters, Wong headed straight over to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building where hundreds of demonstrators are holding a sit-in protest.
To cheers, he revealed that he had not even stopped at home for a change of fresh clothes or underwear.
“I am wearing the same clothes as when I went to prison on May 16th,” he said, before going on to add that he had inspired by all the recent protests, declaring, “It is time for me to join this fight.”
