Hong Kong protest leaders avoid jail time at sentencing News
Hong Kong protest leaders avoid jail time at sentencing

A Hong Kong court on Monday sentenced three leaders of the 2014 pro-democracy protests who were convicted on charges related to their occupation of a government building. Joshua Wong and Alex Chow, prominent leaders of the Umbrella Revolution [Guardian backgrounder], were convicted of unlawful assembly, while a third activist, Nathan Law, was found to have incited others to join that unlawful assembly. The court sentenced [HKFP report] Wong and Law to 80 and 120 hours of community service, respectively. Chow was given a three-week suspended jail sentence.

The charges stem from 79 days [Time report] of street protests in Hong Kong, during which time pro-democracy protesters occupied [JURIST report] a number of public roads and buildings. Wong and Law are currently the leaders of the Demosisto [party website, in Chinese] political party and were planning to stand for legislative elections in November.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Congress passed legislation establishing post-WWII national security structure

On July 25, 1947, the National Security Act of 1947 was passed, establishing a linkage between the military and national security, and setting up the National Security Council (NSC), the CIA, the Department of Defense, and several other new agencies, including the National Military Establishment with three separate departments (the Army, the Navy and the new US Air Force), and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Learn more about the National Security Act of 1947.

Brunswick Manifesto proclaimed

On July 25, 1792, the Brunswick Manifesto was proclaimed by Charles William Ferdinand, the Duke of Brunswick during the French Revolutionary Wars. As leader of the forces allied against France, Ferdinand promised retribution against the citizens of Paris if the French Royal Family was harmed. Instead, the Manifesto further inflamed anti-royal sentiment in Paris.