A social worker named Jackie Chen, who claimed she attended the protests to promote restraint, was previously cleared of rioting charges by another court.
The verdict, announced on Tuesday, came after the Secretary for Justice in Hong Kong appealed against her 2020 acquittal, highlighting the ongoing clampdown on political dissent in the region.
Chen reported using a loudspeaker during the protests to appeal to the police to remain calm and refrain from weapon use in order to mediate the situation.
However, the prosecution accused Chen of actively participating in the riot.
Though she pleaded not guilty, Deputy District Judge May Chung concluded that Chen’s accusations against the police were unfounded and that her words and actions supported the protesters, thereby boosting their resolve and confidence to resist the police.
Chen voiced her lack of regrets before the verdict, stating that she had been prepared for five years for this outcome.
“I hope all the people I know will live healthy, they will live happy because we still have our road to walk along,” she said.
Following the verdict, Chen reassured her supporters in the public gallery, shouting that she will be alright. Her sentencing is scheduled for April.
Escalating Repression
Hong Kong law permits a maximum of 10 years in prison for rioting, but District court rulings are limited to seven years.
Chen’s case drew attention due to her limited involvement in the 2019 democracy protests, which represented the most significant challenge to Beijing’s governance of Hong Kong since the 1997 handover from the United Kingdom.
The protests began regarding a proposed extradition bill, which was later withdrawn but evolved into broader demands for democracy and police accountability.
In response, Beijing enacted a comprehensive national security law, resulting in the prosecution of numerous activists. The authorities maintain that this law has restored stability.
Last year, a court convicted 45 pro-democracy activists and sentenced them to jail terms of up to 10 years in the most significant mass sentencing since the imposition of the national security law.
