Thread by @AVindman

I stand with @Renew_Democracy Fellow @EnesFreedom! I know something about risking your career to do the right thing and that's what Enes did. He spoke out in defense of Uyghurs, Tibetans, and others who don't have a voice. Even if we don't know exactly why he was waived, 1/5

it fits a pattern of the @NBA kowtowing to China's dictatorship. They brought the hammer down on the @HoustonRockets GM after he expressed support for Hong Kong protests. They've bent over backwards to appease the CCP, and this sets a dangerous precedent. 2/5

We used to believe that open societies would export freedom & democratic values, such appeasement shows that we've begun importing authoritarianism. Unfortunately, the @NBA isn't alone. @Disney thanked CCP-aligned groups in Xinjiang who are committing genocide against Uyghurs 3/5

.@Apple, @YouTube, many in Hollywood, etc are censoring themselves to appease dictatorships. @EnesFreedom took a huge personal risk to speak out against dictators, and I hope that more people in the Free World will do the same. #HereRightMatters 4/5

It’s also important to remember that one can be supportive of @EnesFreedom without fanning the flames of domestic polarization or comparing him (favorably or otherwise) to other activists. We should judge his activism on its own merits. 5/5