Many of us have been transfixed by the efforts of the millions of people, from young students to the elderly, marching in the streets of Hong Kong for the past few months.

They’re not marching against climate change, but against a very real and immediate existential danger – that they not to be spirited away by the Communist authorities to the Chinese mainland and disappeared forever if they are arrested by the police. They’re fighting to maintain the rights and autonomy that they were promised when Hong Kong was handed back to China.

Hong Kongers have been faced with terrifying police brutality, with beatings, tear gas, with at least one person facing blindness after being assaulted by police. The protesters have come out in the millions and they have placed everything on the line – their careers and their lives – for the freedom and the future of Hong Kong.

Through it all, the people of Hong Kong have chosen a symbol to wave which they believe is emblematic of their fight for freedom – the American flag. They’ve marched with it, even sung our national anthem. Yes, they’re doing it to appeal to us in the hope that we might be able to help them in some way. But they’re also doing it because freedom and protection of human rights is what America and the flag means to them and to so much of the rest of the world, despite what folks here on the left would have us believe. Waving the American flag also endangers them more because it allows the government to suggest they are influenced by outside forces and gives justification to move against them to suppress them. Yet they have persisted, because they truly believe. That takes great courage.

高呼天滅中共 港大學生舉美國旗遊行

週五下午，香港大學的學生在校園內遊行，並高舉美國國旗、高喊「天滅中共」，呼籲美國國會通過《香港人權及民主法案》。「天滅中共、全黨死清光」的海報上，天雷轟炸，將天安門廣場上的毛澤東像擊落。 pic.twitter.com/qkbH4C1zV0

— 小婷 (@ttingxiao) September 21, 2019

Hong Kong Protesters handle American Flag with high respect and good caution.

They are not like the pro-Beijing groups who throw away their national flag after use.

This undoubtedly differentiate the quality of people https://t.co/UEqYiP2hCf

— 🇭🇰Be the Light of the World🇺🇸 (@lam_chau_bar) September 22, 2019

The people of Hong Kong fully understand why the 2nd Amendment exists. Here is a photo of a HK protester. Others were seen waving US Flags.

We are blessed to have these freedoms even if you do not practice them yourself. pic.twitter.com/7tznehx0gM

— TheProofBloggers (@BloggersProof) August 7, 2019

As I watch places like Venezuela and Hong Kong, I’m glad we have the #2ndAmendment here in the US…. Hell, even the Chinese in Hong Kong are emulating the sayings of our Founding Fathers…. #ShallNotBeInfringed pic.twitter.com/dTYzcEVMgN

— Andy Dunaj Jr (@AndyDKing33) September 8, 2019

So imagine the surprise of the folks protesting in Hong Kong when they were confronted with an American woman in a video that has gone viral. This woman ripped down some of the stickers the protesters had pasted on a wall and chastised the young students, telling them that “You guys value freedom more than safety.”

"You guys value freedom more than safety."

American woman in Hong Kong begins lecturing protesters in the street.

"Is this ok? Is this respectful?" she asks them. pic.twitter.com/Qe3K4RJMfs

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 24, 2019

Dear Hong Kongers, we’re sorry, but please know that this woman doesn’t represent us, that indeed you understand the principles of America much better than does she.

That woman clearly takes that freedom for granted and doesn’t really understand what it’s like to live under a Communist dictatorship. Or, worse, perhaps she thinks it’s a good thing and is just a shill for the regime.

We’ve seen so many on the left and now even in Congress who seem willing and happy to embrace socialism, with folks like Antifa and other far-left radicals wanting to push us in the direction which the Hong Kongers are fighting so desperately against.

It’s because we’ve had brave Americans who have fought for our rights that this woman has the comfort and luxury to not have the fear that Hong Kongers now face.

Do you think we could make a trade for all Americans who love Communism to go to Hong Kong and we’ll take the people of Hong Kong who love America and freedom?

pic.twitter.com/zKRhKoRjao

— Ex-Liberal Bear 🇺🇸 (@bear_galactic) September 24, 2019

The Hong Kong movement reminds us again how special America is and how important it is to protect it.