Key points
- 01 At just 14, Joshua Wong founded Scholarism in Hong Kong, a student movement opposing political indoctrination, marking the start of his lifelong campaign for civil liberties.
- 02 In 2014, he led the Umbrella Movement, a 79-day peaceful occupation demanding free elections, which became one of Hong Kong's most significant acts of pro-democracy resistance.
- 03 Arrested in 2020 and sentenced multiple times under Hong Kong's national security law, Joshua Wong remains detained, a symbol of the ongoing suppression of democratic freedoms in the territory.
01
Not born to lead
Born in Hong Kong in 1996, Joshua grew up in a modest, civic-minded family. Early on, he questioned authority and looked for answers. He didn't inherit a cause, he built one.
02
The start of a revolt
At only 14, Joshua launched Scholarism, a student movement against indoctrination. This was just the start of a relentless fight for civil liberties in Hong Kong.
03
79 days to freedom
In 2014, Joshua became the face of a peaceful 79-day occupation known as the Umbrella Movement, demanding free elections. Faced with repression, he chose action, not silence.
04
The umbrella as a shield
Protesters used umbrellas to block tear gas and to shield themselves from surveillance cameras. That simple object became a symbol of peaceful resistance. A tool of protection turned into a global icon of defiance.
05
The umbrellas closed again
The Umbrella Movement ended without concessions. No electoral reform. Arrested in 2020, Joshua Wong was sentenced multiple times. He's still detained under Hong Kong's national security law.
06
In prison but not forgotten
Joshua Wong has been spending years behind bars for standing up to Beijing. Since 2022, he has been kept silenced. But even that speaks. His fight endures, even when his voice can't.
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