Hundreds of Hong Kong pro-democracy supporters holding yellow umbrellas held three minutes’ silence outside the city’s government offices Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of mass protests challenging Beijing.
The anniversary of the “Umbrella Revolution” comes as tensions remain high in the semi-autonomous city, with fears growing that China is tightening its grip.
Huge rallies in 2014 demanding fully free leadership elections and other democratic reforms for Hong Kong brought parts of the city to a standstill for more than two months. Those demands were snubbed by Beijing, but since then former Umbrella Movement protesters have won seats as city lawmakers.
Some of them are now pushing for a complete break from China as the fledgling independence movement gains support.
Former Umbrella Movement protest leader Nathan Law, 23, became Hong Kong’s youngest legislator in the recent citywide elections. He now advocates self-determination for Hong Kong. Speaking to the crowds yesterday, Law urged them to keep fighting.
“It’s important for you to find the impulse and bravery from before to allow for an even bigger resistance next time,” he said, speaking on a stage beside the “Lennon Wall” — a staircase near the government complex that became plastered with notes of support for protesters during the 2014 rallies.
Law was joined by political ally Joshua Wong, 19, who also addressed the crowds. In an interview with AFP Wednesday, Wong said the democracy movement was in a “long-term battle facing the largest communist regime in the world”.
“We just have to show our persistence, courage and commitment,” he said.
Tear gas moment
At 5:58pm those gathered held three minutes’ silence to mark the time two years ago when police fired tear gas at student-led pro-democracy protesters.
That galvanised tens of thousands to come onto the streets in support. The largely peaceful demonstrations spawned sprawling protest camps, with tents and artworks set up on highways and shopping streets.
The movement gained its name from protesters’ use of umbrellas to shield them from tear gas, pepper spray, sun and rain alike. Supporters Wednesday said they felt the rallies had changed the city for the better.
“The Umbrella Movement transformed many in the city to care about the community, so we must make an effort to remember this incident,” said school student Joy Chan, 14.
Chan said she had taken part in the protests in 2014 — many school-age protesters joined the demonstrations and makeshift classrooms were set up so they could continue their studies.
Housewife Claire Weber, 42, said she was at the site two years ago when police fired tear gas at the crowds. “No matter what, or how messy the political environment gets, we must persist,” she told AFP.
The atmosphere Wednesday was carnivalesque, with souvenirs including miniature yellow paper umbrellas — the symbol of the movement — handed out to those taking part.
Metres-tall signs reading “I want real universal suffrage” were displayed, an echo of the slogans of 2014.
Words: AFP
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