HONG KONG — A Hong Kong Court has convicted nine prominent protesters over their role in the "Umbrella Movement" in 2014, The South China Morning Post reports.<br /><br />The democracy activists were charged with public nuisance and could face up to seven years in prison, The New York Times reports.<br /><br />The Umbrella Movement was a 79-day long democracy protest lasting from September to mid-December in 2014 against Hong Kong authorities and the Chinese government. <br />Protestesters used yellow umbrellas during the movement and rallied against China's influence in the city. <br /><br />This was because the Chinese Communist Party decided to vet all potential leadership candidates in Hong Kong elections. As a result, thousands of activists occupied Hong Kong Central in protest.<br /><br />The New York Times reports the democracy activists were charged with public nuisance and could face up to seven years in prison.<br /><br />According to the South China Morning Post, Judge Johnny Chan said on the founders of the movement professors Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Pastor Chu Yiu-ming were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to create public nuisance.<br /><br />Judge Chan said the protesters had created a public nuisance by blocking roads and causing obstructions throughout the city.<br /><br />The two professors were also charged with instigating others to commit public nuisance.<br /><br />The BBC quotes Tai as telling reporters that "No matter what happens today… we will persist on and … not give up."<br /><br />Hong Kong Legislators Tanya Chan, Shiu Ka-chun along with student leaders of the movement Tommy Cheung, Eason Chung and Former Hong Kong Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Wing-tat were all convicted of one count of inciting others and one count of inciting protests themselves.<br /><br />In a statement by Chris Patten which was cited by the New York Times, the last governor of Hong Kong's colonial era, said the verdict was "appallingly divisive" and called it "vengeful."
