Leahy, Wicker, Rubio Lead Bipartisan Call Urging President To Speak Out On Hong Kong

Press Release

U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Senate President Pro Tempore, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Senate Republican Deputy Whip, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., today led a bipartisan group of 21 Senators in calling on President Obama to speak out publicly in support of the people of Hong Kong and their right to full democracy.

In their letter to the President, the Senators urge the Administration to "take demonstrable, meaningful steps to help ensure that Beijing maintains its commitments to the people of Hong Kong."

"The people of Hong Kong have sent a strong message to the world that they want the right to choose their leaders to be respected," Leahy said. "The Administration should voice U.S. support for full democracy in Hong Kong and make clear that it is in the Chinese Government's interest to abide by its commitment to "one country, two systems.'"

"The Administration should be speaking out more forcefully on behalf of the people of Hong Kong who are trying to exercise self-determination," Wicker said. "This is a matter of importance not only to those people seeking to be free but also to the American people, who share these democratic values. We should not miss this opportunity to be on the right side of history."

"The United States needs to stand with the people of the Hong Kong in their effort to achieve full democracy," Rubio said. "Violent attacks and intimidation are the tools of repression and should have no place on Hong Kong's streets if the authorities are truly interested in dialogue. Free people around the world need to speak out for those in Hong Kong who want nothing more than the rights they have been promised."

Leahy, Wicker, and Rubio were joined in their letter by Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Richard Burr, R-N.C., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Bob Casey, D-Penn., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Carl Levin, D-Mich., Mary Landrieu, D-La., John McCain, R-Ariz., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., John Thune, R-S.D., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

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