Throughout the US and in other countries, writers are organizing their own Writers Resist events on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, January 15, 2017. Invited speakers will read from a curated selection of diverse writers’ voices that speak to the ideals of Democracy and free expression. The public is encouraged to attend. —WRITERS RESIST

On Sunday 15 January 2017, as part of the #WRITERSRESIST initiative, Hong Kong-based journals Cha: An Asian Literary Journal (English) and Voice & Verse Poetry Magazine (Chinese) will join together to host a reading of poetry that celebrates democracy, freedom of expression and compassion for mankind. Contributors from each publication will be reading from their own or others’ work which reflects the spirit of the event, followed by an open discussion on the relevance of poetry in today’s society. Audience participation is very welcome during this session. [Click here for more information.]

Jason S Polley (Associate Professor), Lian-Hee Wee (Associate Professor) and Suzanne Lai (Alumna, 2014) will be giving readings, while Tammy Ho Lai-Ming is the co-organiser of the event.

Event: #WRITERSRESIST: A Joint Reading
Organisers: Cha: An Asian Literary Journal and Voice & Verse Poetry Magazine 聲韻詩刊
Date: Sunday 15 January 2017
Venue: The House of Hong Kong Literature 香港文學生活館  (1/F Foo Tak Building, 365-367 Hennessy Road, Wanchai / 灣仔軒尼詩道365號富德樓1樓)
Time: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Tammy Ho Lai-Ming is the Founding Co-editor of Cha: An Asian Literary Journal and an assistant professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. She is the co-organiser of Hong Kong’s #WRITERSRESIST.

Suzanne Lai is an ardent bibliophile and cinephile. She sees the world in vivid colours. With a concentration in Comparative Literature, she straddles both Chinese and English narratives with untethered imagination. Hoarding a vast collection of novels and vinyl records, Suzanne lives dangerously under a wavering tower of words and rhythm. “You can never run away. Not ever. The only way out is in,” said Junot Díaz. Suzanne still trusts that we can keep barging in unapologetically with our heads held high – to read and write relentlessly.

Jason S Polley is associate professor of literary journalism, postmodern literature, and poststructural theory in the English Department at Hong Kong Baptist University. His research interests also include post-WWII graphic forms, media studies, and contemporary Indian fiction. But he prefers to skateboard, scuba dive, and harangue lap sap chungs..

Lian-Hee Wee became a phonologist when he failed as a syntactician, which followed his failure as comedian, and before that, musician. His latest failure is at veganism. However, his failures are categorically indistinct from current passions since he hasn’t given up trying, tinkering and finding solace that any non-success is material for humour. His political views are naïve because for him RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES apply to all sentient beings, even if they have a predator-prey relationship. Democracy is one of many ways to safeguard these rights, and Lian-Hee is angered that despite centuries of sacrifices, hallowed grounds continue to be trespassed, freedoms stolen and rights robbed. When will we be ready to debate, explore models more effective than democracy with regards R&R? It should be evident that Lian-Hee is confused on the boundaries between fury and funny.