Not only does it not help, it actually makes it worse for them. Any help from Westerners for these movements only reinforces narratives -- by the Chinese or Iranian authorities, for example -- that protesters or dissidents are tools of American interference. And the result is a tightening of the screws, and less freedom. Hong Kong is a perfect case. Western solidarity only makes things worse. As a Hong Konger, I beg you -- please, please, do NOT give me solidarity!!!