Protests [AP report] took place in Hong Kong Sunday with an estimated 5,000 people marching in support of pro-democracy politicians. Four elected, pro-democracy lawmakers were barred from taking office in 2016 after altering the words in their official oaths. The protesters demonstrated against the government’s interference with the democratic process, being that the four lawmakers were rightfully elected.

In November a Hong Kong Court ruled against [JURIST report] two elected, pro-independence politicians from taking local office. In October three officials were barred as a result of a political protest [NYT report] launched during their inaugural oaths. The November decision deemed the oaths unfulfilled when two of the legislators pledged their allegiance to the “Hong Kong Nation” as opposed to the People’s Republic of China. The politicians were found to have willfully omitted their duty to take the oath when requested to do so and has their positions automatically invalidated as a result.