HONG KONG -- Nine prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy figures, including outspoken media tycoon Jimmy Lai, were sentenced on Friday to between eight months and 18 months in prison for organizing and participating in an unauthorized protest in 2019, as the local government continued its monthslong crackdown on political dissent.
The peaceful protest took place on Aug. 18, 2019, amid citywide anti-government rallies against a now-withdrawn extradition bill and to demand full democracy in Hong Kong. The demonstration's organizer said 1.7 million people took part in the protest, but police estimates were considerably lower.
