Our Dissident Awarded — June Update from the Dissident Project
Frances Hui Awarded at Tiananmen Square Vigil
Frances Hui earned the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation’s Dissident Human Rights Award last week for her advocacy for the people of Hong Kong in opposition to the Chinese Communist Party. Did you know that she became a pro-democracy activist at age 14? Her consistency is commendable. She closed her remarks saying, “No bounty, intimidation, or threat against my loved ones will stop me from fighting until Hong Kong is free and my friends are freed.”
Oslo Freedom Forum
I attended the Oslo Freedom Forum, an annual conference of human rights activists, journalists, artists, technologists, and policymakers with this year’s goal of exploring better ways to “dismantle dictatorship.” There, I had the opportunity to invite a number of dissidents from across the globe to join our program for the upcoming academic year, and I’m excited to see who applies!
Additionally, I listened to notable leaders speak, from the exiles Maria Corina Machado and Lobsang Sangay to the CEOs Pavel Durov and Jamie Fly. It was exciting and inspiring to hear what other organizations around the world are doing to fight authoritarianism and advocate for liberty.
Steven Kefas, Nigerian journalist and human rights activist on the mainstage.
3 Weeks Left to Join the Dissident Project
The talent application closes in just under 3 weeks. As a reminder, here are the ways dissidents can get involved with us:
Broadcast media and podcast speaking opportunities through our global network.
Brand consultation and creator coaching to grow your social media presence.
Writing projects — op-eds and articles on Substack, blogs, and national papers.
Speaking opportunities through live events at high schools, colleges, and national conferences.
If you know anyone who wants to learn and grow with us, feel free to refer him or her here. Applications close at 11:59 PM EDT on June 28.
Welcome to our summer intern!
We have a new summer media management intern, Peter “Nico” Galindo! Nico comes to us from Hillsdale College where he is studying political economy. He aims to attend law school with a long-term career focus on international law and policy. We’re glad to have him on board for the summer months!
Thanks for following the Dissident Project this year. I’m excited to share an update on the Project with you next month.
