Hong Kong Protests Persist; White House Gives Thumbs Up

"Keep on truckin'," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, probably.

The White House is watching democracy protests in Hong Kong closely and supports the "aspirations of the Hong Kong people," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday.

"The United States supports universal suffrage in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and we support the aspirations of the Hong Kong people," said Earnest, who also urged restraint on both sides.

Thousands of democracy protesters gathered for a fourth night in the capitalist hub of more than 7 million people, defying tear gas and police batons as the Communist government in Beijing made clear it would not tolerate dissent.