Image - Nathan Law and images from documentary
San Francisco

'Who's Afraid of Nathan Law' Film Screening and Q&A

In-person TicketsOnline-only Tickets

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Nathan Law was a leader of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution when he was still only 21 years old. By the age of 23, he was the youngest lawmaker ever elected in the history of Hong Kong. By the age of 26, he was “Most Wanted” under the government’s National Security Law.

Join us for a screening of Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? followed by a Q&A with Nathan Law (participating remotely) and director Joe Piscatella, and learn more about the courage, resilience and youthful idealism of Nathan Law, a young man who mortgages his own future to try to save his home.

As a college freshman, shy Nathan Law discovers an identity in activism. As one of the organizers of a student strike demanding that Hong Kong be allowed to elect its own leader (something promised to them back in 1998), Law leads five days of student boycotts with a message of peaceful civil disobedience. When the strike suddenly becomes the Umbrella Revolution, Law is unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role that shuts down Hong Kong for 79 days and captures the attention of the world.

When the movement falters, the government charges Law for his role in the Umbrella Revolution, but his entire generation in Hong Kong has been awoken. Riding the enthusiasm of the student movement he helped spark, Law makes the impossible transition from protest leader to elected official, becoming the youngest lawmaker in Hong Kong’s history, where he continues his fight for democracy from inside the government. Fearful of his message gaining traction beyond students, the government disqualifies Law on a technicality and sends him to jail.

As Hong Kong continues to see the erosion of its freedom, a new movement is launched. Whereas the Umbrella Revolution was driven by hope, this new movement is driven by desperation. Nathan’s message of civil disobedience is overshadowed by a new generation of protestors who no longer feel that peaceful demonstrations can save Hong Kong, As Hong Kong descends into the biggest political crisis in modern Chinese history, Nathan must decide his role and his future.

Find out how it happened and what could happen next.

Notes

This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.

If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

Photos courtesy the speaker.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Thu, Dec 5 / 6:00 PM PST

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
110 The Embarcadero
Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers
Image - Nathan Law

Nathan Law (participating remotely)

Activist 

Joe Piscatella

Director, Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law

Image - Don Young

Don Young

Director of Programs, Center for Asian American Media—Moderator

Format

5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7:30 p.m film screening
7:30–8 p.m. question & answer session
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

Members receive 30–50 percent discounts (not a member? Join)

In-person:
$20
Online:
$10