The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong should serve as a sobering reminder for Americans as to why we have the Constitution. The freedoms of speech, press, and assembly outlined in our founding document are diametrically opposed to the Chinese Communist Party’s record of censorship and ruthless crushing of dissent.

Chinese law has not afforded Hong Kong demonstrators the same First Amendment protections we enjoy, not even close. For these young activists, there is nothing stopping Communist Party thugs from moving in and squashing their dissent through force.

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