Hong Kong activist ‘Grandma Wong’ sentenced to 1 month in jail over assault incident

65-year-old protester “Grandma Wong” was sentenced to a month in prison over a common assault charge. Photo via Apple Daily
65-year-old protester “Grandma Wong” was sentenced to a month in prison over a common assault charge. Photo via Apple Daily

Hong Kong protester Alexandra Wong, widely known as “Grandma Wong,” was sentenced to a month in prison for assaulting a security guard outside a court in January 2019.

Wong, who went without a lawyer, represented herself during the trial at the Eastern Magistrates’ Court Wednesday. She refused to testify, did not enter a plea and asked that the judge give her a heavier penalty, according to HK01.

“Could you extend [the sentence]?” the 65-year-old asked, thanking the magistrate.

Wong was charged with common assault for jabbing her arm into a female security guard’s chest during a security check at High Court a year and a half ago.

Citing the importance of protecting court staff, Judge Edward Wong handed the 65-year-old social activist a month-long sentence, the maximum penalty for the assault offense.

As she left the courtroom, Wong yelled out protest chants including the now-illegal slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time.” When she shouted “Five demands,” a supporter in the courtroom responded, “Not one less,” reported Stand News.

For years, the elderly protester has been a regular fixture at pro-democracy demonstrations, often seen waving a Union Jack flag and holding a yellow umbrella whether rain or shine.

Wong was detained in China for over a year. When she resurfaced in Hong Kong last October, she said she was arrested by mainland police officers when returning to Shenzhen after joining an August 2019 protest and detained for “administrative detention” and “criminal detention.” (Wong previously told reporters that she lives in the Chinese border city and commutes to Hong Kong to attend demonstrations.)

She was arrested again after a lone march days before the anniversary of the June 4 massacre this year.



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