A man helps to hang up a large banner that says “The citizens vow to return” the last night of the main protest camp on Dec. 11.
The night before the police tore down the main Admiralty protest camp and cleared the roads of protesters, crowds rivalling the size of those the first week of Occupy gathered and took their last photos, took one last stroll, or stayed up one last night. After the crowds left, people still lingered and the camp remained serene and even cheery late in the night.
At 3 am, volunteers were still packing up the supply camps, a vital part of keeping the camp going.
Signs declaring some variation of “We will be back” were found all over the camp.
People had one last meal using handmade benches and tables.
An artist was sketching free portraits for protesters.
People signed Umbrella Movement memorabilia.
One table was busy at work creating leather yellow ribbons while people waited for over an hour to get a free one.
University students took their last chance to take graduation photos at the camp.
The Lennon Wall was carefully removed, to be preserved in its entirety.
Protesters young and old stayed through the night.
A curtain of origami umbrellas remained.
A large banner proclaiming “I want real universal suffrage” had been rolled out on the floor recently. It was removed for safekeeping later that night.
A little before 4am, an activist and his assistant hoisted a massive banner declaring that the citizens vowed to return.
After 75 days, many of the banners had experienced wear and tear.
People slept on the chairs usually reserved for students wishing to use the study corner.
A protester slept under a banner declaring “I want real universal suffrage”.
At one point, a glitter fight broke out and the sparkly confetti covered the ground. Soon glitter could be found throughout the entire camp.
Three friends posed in a “puddle” of glitter as others threw more onto them.
Some protesters tried to sleep unsuccessfully.
Hygiene-conscious protesters kept their shoes off in their little private area.
The camp at 4:30am, just 8 hours before the clearance began.
Click here for photos of the clearance that morning and watch the Coconuts TV video on the clearance:
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