You’re Not Alone: Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution spreads around the world

Hong Kong’s Occupy Central movement has not only spread beyond Central and into Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Mong Kok and TST, but beyond the territory’s borders and all around the world. Looks like those umbrellas are doing the trick!

A group calling itself the Hong Kong Overseas Alliance organised various protests in 22 global cities at the weekend, including Berlin, Perth, New York and London. According to a release by Hong Kong pro-democracy group Occupy Central, however, today, PRC National Day, will see an even bigger show of solidarity, with at least 62 cities across the world hosting rallies, sit-ins and protests in support of the Hong Kong people.

Let’s take a look at some of the action so far.

Taiwan

Closest to home are most probably the solidarity protests in Taiwan’s capital Taipei. Rallies led by student activist Chen Wei-ting started on Sunday, demanding that Taiwan’s president condemn the response of the Hong Kong police and cease all dealings with China. 

Singapore

Singapore Occupy Central protest

Normally firm but friendly rivals of Hongkongers, Singaporeans will take to Hong Lim Park tonight for a candlelight vigil. Although the country’s super strict regulations insist everyone must have a permit to participate in demonstrations, the organisers insist that it’s fine if you just go along to “observe”.

“We welcome all in Singapore to join in this candle light vigil to show support to our sisters and brothers in Hong Kong in their quest for freedom, justice and democracy. Please come in black, a yellow ribbon/yellow umbrella.”

Canada

 

 

In this small but loud protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Toronto, Gloria Fung of the Canada-Hong Kong link in Toronto called on governments, media and communities around the world to “closely monitor the future developments in Hong Kong” in order to prevent the “bloody tragedy” of Tiananmen Square repeating itself.

“We would like to tell all Hong Kong citizens that they are not fighting the battle alone. We as concerned individuals and organisations around the world will stand by them.”

Be sure to check out the thigh and arm power of the blonde journalist squatting for a prolonged period while holding two mics in one hand and a camera in the other, and the dude with cling film wrapped around his face right at the end.

United Kingdom

Some 400 or so protestors gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square last Sunday carrying yellow roses and chanting “Shame on police violence. We want free elections”, after news of the police crackdown in Hong Kong broke. Many are also expected to doorstep the Chinese embassy and consulates in the UK capital today.

 

In a TV interview, British Prime Minster David Cameron said “Real universal suffrage doesn’t just mean the act of voting, it does mean a proper choice”.

Glad he cleared that one up.

United States

The United States has perhaps been the biggest cheer leaders of the cause, with various campaigns taking off all across the country. As well as a petition on the White House website urging President Barak Obama to “press the Chinese Government to honour its promise of democratic elections to the Hong Kong citizenry,” and avoid another Tiananmen massacre, a crowd-funding campaign is seeking USD55,000 to run a full page ad in the New York Times in support of Hong Kong protestors.

Wear yellow

More than 36,000 people have also signed up for the “Wear Yellow for Hong Kong on October 1st” event, a Facebook movement that began at Harvard University but has since spread across the US and globally.

Finally, we found this video of a solidarity campaign in Los Angeles, which starts with the quintessentially Hong Kong scene of a glamourous young lady taking a selfie with the protest behind her.

 

 

Gabriel Law from Hong Kong Forum, Los Angeles, says: “I think most of the American public don’t follow this and don’t understand it. But what I really want to say is: if you buy from Walmart, Target, anything made in China, if you have a pension fund or are maybe investing in some business ventures in China, this concerns you. They [Beijing] broke their promise to the Hong Kong people, they will break their promise to you as well. So if you don’t care about this today, I hope you start caring about it tomorrow.”

We particularly appreciate the comment from an unidentified female speaker who says: “So many of these young people who are protesting today in Hong Kong weren’t even born when Tiananmen happened, yet they are continuing in the spirit of Tiananmen. Absolutely beautiful”.

We couldn’t agree more.

Related stories:

The Great Firewall of China: Internet activists go stealth as China steps up censorship of Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong’s National Day flag raising undisturbed, but Occupy Central protestors kept away

Cyber experts uncover ‘Chinese written’ malware used to spy on Hong Kong protestors’ phones

Defiant Hong Kong protesters vow to stay put despite heavy rain

Occupy Central tell supporters to stay steadfast and guard ‘Democracy Squares’

 



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