U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R) is expressing his frustration and disgust at U.S. companies who have bowed down to the Communist Chinese government and allowed them to “dictate their actions.”
Sen. Scott is calling out ESPN’s for discouraging it’s TV hosts and personalities to talk about the political issue between China and Hong Kong.
Scott suggests that ESPN “use its platform to shine a light on Communist China’s oppression of the people of Hong Kong” instead of turning a blind eye to the problem.
Scott also took NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to task after Silver announced that he wants to meet with Chinese officials to talk about the controversial pro-Hong Kong protest tweet by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey.
Morey tweeted “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong.”
.@NBA Commissioner Silver has time to kowtow to Chinese officials but refuses to meet with me to discuss how the US organization can utilize its platform to promote the freedoms we have across the globe.
He should make a stop in #HongKong to see the people fighting for freedom. https://t.co/4t7TCdMu2s
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) October 9, 2019
Morey deleted this tweet of support for the Hong Kong protests and apologized for offending the Chinese.
The NBA also apologized for Morey “deeply offending” their “friends and fans in China.”
“Commissioner Silver has time to kowtow to Chinese officials but refuses to meet with me to discuss how the US organization can utilize its platform to promote the freedoms we have across the globe,” tweeted Scott “He should make a stop in Hong Kong to see the people fighting for freedom.”
In a statement to protest Morey’s tweet and Silver’s subsequent and apologetic statement about the tweet, the Chinese are now trying to tell Americans what the true meaning of “free speech” is.
"We express our strong dissatisfaction and opposition to Silver's stated support of Morey's right to free speech. We believe any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability do not belong to the category of free speech," the network said. "We will also immediately examine all other cooperation and exchanges with the NBA."
Both Republican and Democratic legislators have been vocal in their opposition to China’s human rights abuses, and in supporting the protests in Hong Kong.
Scott recently singled out the espionage threat China poses.
