Video Blogger Deported From China

Noel Hildalgo, a blogger who caught footage of a pretty tame protest in Tiananmen Square (video) and put it up online, was deported from China.

Matt Browner-Hamlin, sometime FDL contributor and veteran of the Ned Lamont, Chris Dodd and Mark Begich races was also ejected from an Olympics equestrian event for trying to unveil a Tibetan flag but was not deported.

This comes on the heels of China’s revocation of Joey Cheek’s visa. (Former Olympic gold medalist Cheek formed Team Darfur to protest the crisis in Darfur, and will be on the Colbert Report tomorrow).

A short time ago, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James had said they would be publicly speaking out about Darfur during the Olympics, but had second thoughts about it and have grown silent.

So far China’s marks: "10" for opening ceremonies pageantry, "0" for free speech.

And if anyone thinks the growing surveillance state is no big deal and what’s happening with FISA is only for criminals and nothing to be worried about, read Naomi Klein’s article on "China’s All-Seeing Eye." You’re certain to be comforted in ways the rest of us are not.

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