【10.20集結案】

//2019 年 10 月 20 日九龍遊行案，前民陣召集人陳皓桓、民主黨前主席何俊仁、社民連前立法會議員梁國雄等 7 人，被指煽惑他人參與未經批准集結、組織未經批准集結等。7 人早前承認控罪，法官胡雅文今（1 日）在區域法院判 7 人監禁 11 至 16 個月。除了黃浩銘，其餘被告的刑期與早前 8.18、8.31、10.1 未經批准集結案刑期同期執行。//

以下是文遠的感言：

【吳文遠 - 10.20九龍遊行案件感言】

這是一宗政治案件，所以我認為這篇陳詞適合放在政治脈絡下開展。

我們生活在急劇轉變及充滿挑戰的時代。基於政府所謂「安全」的理由，記者、報館、網台主持、學者、教師、學生、藝人、歌手、工會人、社運人、民意代表以及許多市民，都一一被迫沉默，以至逐個被拘捕、檢控、囚禁。

尤有甚者，「安全」的定義還在不斷挪移及擴大。昨日出版的一篇報紙文章、一次演講、一種主張、一個標語，今天都可能被視為對「安全」的威脅。

短短數年前那些通常被判罰款或社區服務令的行動，現在會被判監禁。這裡曾經存在和而不同及真誠辯論觀點的言論空間，但現在只剩下觸目驚心的紅線。

每天都帶來法規的重新演繹，每天都突破荒謬的下限。有他們的眼中，現在甚至連兒童繪本都成為了對「安全」的威脅。

問題無可避免地浮現：究竟這些法規是要保護誰的「安全」？是公民的自由，抑或是實際上已經非常有權力的人的權力？

我們追求怎樣的秩序？這些法規的設計，是為了所有公民能夠享有法治、自由、公平競爭及繁榮的機會嗎？還是旨在引領我們進入一個政府不受挑戰及不受限制的時代？

我們發現自身正處於一個這樣的時代，人們需要作出看似簡單卻極為困難的選擇——就如哈維爾所指——我們要活在真實中，還是要服從於謊言及荒謬？

在我追求的真實生活中，我們只是像《國王的新衣》中的小孩那樣呼喊：「喂，國王根本冇著衫喎！」

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【Avery Ng: On October 20 Kowloon Rally】

This is a political case, so I think it is appropriate to frame my remarks within the political context of this matter.

We live in rapidly changing and challenging times. Journalists, newspaper publishers, broadcasters, academics, teachers, students, artists, singers, trade unionists, political activists, democratically elected representatives, and many other citizens are being silenced, arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned by the Hong Kong government for supposed reasons relating to “security”.

What’s more, the definition of this “security” is constantly shifting and expanding. A newspaper article published yesterday, a speech, an opinion, a slogan--even a gesture may be treated as a threat to security today.

Actions that would have previously and sometimes rightly merited community service or fines just a few short years ago, now lead to the possibility of jail. Where once there was the space to disagree agreeably and debate ideas honestly. Now there is intolerance.

Every day brings a new re-interpretation of the rules. Every day we reach a new level of absurdity. Even children’s cartoon books have now reached the status that they are seen by some as a threat to “security”.

The inevitable question arises: Whose security is being protected--the liberty of citizens? Or are these laws in fact protecting and securing the power of the already-powerful?

What kind of order are we seeking? Are these laws designed to uphold the rule of law, ensure freedom, a level playing field, and the chance of prosperity for all citizens? Or are they meant to usher in an era in which the government can rule unchallenged and unchecked?

In the times that we find ourselves in, one needs to make a choice that is at once simple yet immensely difficult. As Vaclav Havel writes: Do we live in the truth? Or conform to lies and absurdity?

In my pursuit to live in the truth, we are merely the kid who yelled “hey, the Emperor wears no clothes.”

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On today's adventure we discuss a massive difference between Chinese society and Western Society, in China public scuffles and fights between spouses are fairly common and usually go unchallenged
https://youtu.be/f-0e-O1cDbI

It was modern urban life's answer to a movie premiere, complete with hulking black SUVs, gawkers and screamers, barricades and video paparazzi.

The scene was the Reebok Store on Philadelphia's South Street. The debut was for sneakers. And 500 people, most of them school-age, were standing in line, waiting to see a basketball player and a rap star.

Allen Iverson and 50 Cent met the media yesterday afternoon in an event staged to promote Iverson's new Answer 7 shoe and 50 Cent's new G6.

Iverson, of course, is Reebok's star in the basketball-shoe endorsement business and one of the hottest merchandise sellers in the NBA. For 50 Cent, though, signature shoes are something new.

But the 76ers guard said that pairing the two for promotional purposes (and billboards across America) made perfect sense. Hip-hop and the NBA, he said, go together like peanut butter and jelly.

"All rappers do is watch basketball," he said. "All we do is listen to rap and watch videos."

50 Cent echoed that thought. "I told the people at Reebok: Put me next to A.I. I want to be hot."

Iverson's new shoe, which he will wear on the court, has a suggested retail price of $115. The G6, meant for leisure wear, goes for $80.50, with the 50 cents going to charity.

These are relatively good times for Reebok, which recently issued its best quarterly earning report in six years. While Nike dominates the basketball shoe business, Reebok, based in Canton, Mass., has new hopes of eating into the industry giant's market share.

Nike still has Michael Jordan, the unchallenged king of the basketball shoe, with a LeBron James product line arriving in stores soon.

Last month, though, Reebok signed Houston Rockets center Yao Ming away from Nike, a move likely to have more impact overseas than here. And it has Iverson.

"The Iverson shoes have been very successful," said John Horan, publisher of Sports Goods Intelligence, an industry newsletter based in Glen Mills. "Kids really identify with him because he's been through it all. He has a lot of currency, and Reebok has basically made a lifetime commitment to him."

Among those in line to see Iverson and friend yesterday was Fred Anderson, 28, of Willingboro, Burlington County, carrying two bullet-proof vests that he'd sewn by hand for the celebrities.

Iverson's was white with parts of a blue Sixers jersey on it, No. 3; 50 Cent's was silver and black and bore his name.

Bringing such a gift to the rapper made perfect sense; 50 Cent was shot nine times three years ago and always wears a vest when he performs. Anderson figured that what he did for the one man he ought to do for the other.

"I'm hoping they'll accept the vests and maybe that they can help me get a clothing line started," Anderson said. "If not, if I can get a picture with them holding the vests, that would do."

More typical of the crowd, in terms of age and outlook, was Marqus Yip, 13, of West Philadelphia. In a white shopping bag, he had an Iverson basketball, an Iverson picture, and newly purchased Answer 7 sneakers, white with a black heel and silver trim. He was hoping to get autographs on all the items.

"He just loves A.I.," explained his mother, Jacqueline Holmes, who had taken him out of school to be there. "The Iverson gear is how I keep the A's and B's on his report card. It's an incentive. He knows that if you don't get the A's and B's, you don't get the stuff."