By Tessa Gervasini
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 31, 2025 / 17:30 pm
Author Mark L. Clifford recently discussed the impactful role faith has played in the life of imprisoned pro-democracy Catholic activist Jimmy Lai at a thought-provoking event held at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
“The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong’s Greatest Dissident, and China’s Most Feared Critic” delves into Lai’s journey from rags to riches, his defiance against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and his subsequent arrest in 2020 following the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.
During the presentation, sponsored by the Institute for Human Ecology, Clifford, who serves as president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong, emphasized how Lai’s unwavering faith has empowered him to endure years of unjust persecution.
Having fled from mainland China to Hong Kong at the age of 12, Lai established himself as a successful entrepreneur in the manufacturing and retail sectors. Following the events of the Tiananmen Square protest and massacre in 1989, he founded a media enterprise dedicated to promoting democracy through his newspaper Apple Daily.
Lai was apprehended on Aug. 10, 2020, during a raid on his newspaper’s headquarters.
Clifford remarked, “I believe it is crucial for people to comprehend the influence of individual actions and the significance of upholding one’s principles. Jimmy instills fear in the CCP because he genuinely stands for something.
“This conviction grants him a power and assurance that transcends his business achievements. Apart from his financial success and media influence, it is his steadfast values that truly set him apart.”
