Protest in Hong Kong Again Never Stop

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The protesters in Hong Kong tend to alive in the present: this one demonstration, this one act of resistance, this i small victory, this 1 setback. If they pause, if they let themselves be broken, they might lose everything.

The momentum also helps avoid the question of what comes later. The future could be scary or hopeful or the same as before. They don't know, so they simply accept to endeavour and endeavour and endeavor, for something.

Correct now, the protesters have v main demands, which include scrapping the extradition neb that started the protests in June, mounting an independent enquiry into law brutality, and gaining universal suffrage for Hong Kong citizens.

They're also fighting for things that don't fit neatly on a list: homeland, culture, liberty, democracy, a "one country, two systems" dominion that they had no say in creating simply want to protect for as long equally they can.

Vocalization has collected 6 first-person accounts from Hongkongers who have been involved with the protests in some way. Each person nosotros spoke to told us a personal story nigh how the protests have affected their lives and their city, and what information technology ways to exist part of this movement.

Large crowds of protesters gathered in primal Hong Kong, China on June 12, 2019, against a now-suspended bill that would allow for extraditions to mainland Communist china.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Because of fears for their prophylactic and security, some asked to use just their first names or initials, while others asked to remain bearding. All these accounts were gathered through telephone conversations that took place just before and after the airport protests that captured the world'due south attention on August 12 and 13.

The testimonials aren't meant to be a definitive account of the protests, just rather an intimate glimpse into what the people participating in and supporting this movement think, feel, and want.

Their stories, edited for length and clarity, are below.

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"There's so little time left."

—Chloe, xix, part-time waitress who's studying in England adjacent year

I don't go to protests as much as I did in June, because information technology starts to get exhausting and it'due south starting to experience like — you know how some people, they're getting a bit radical with all the vandalism and just throwing bricks and setting fire? I don't blame them, only I don't agree with the message they're using. Like with July 1, with the [storming of the] Legislative Council. It'southward a violent way of getting in somewhere, merely I wouldn't say it's necessarily trigger-happy because it didn't really hurt anyone.

The main focus should be the government, but a lot of the noise has shifted onto the police fighting with the citizens. Mayhap information technology'due south the authorities trying to make this whole thing a civilian matter. You know how on July 21 in that location were these men in white T-shirts who were attacking citizens? I feel like the government might exist trying to pit citizens against each other so they can come out and be the skillful guy and just clear up everything, clear upwardly the whole mess.

Information technology's just getting out of hand. I don't really know where this is going considering I feel like what nosotros're doing substantially is trying to just buy more than time for Hong Kong so information technology doesn't go completely controlled past the Chinese government. So they won't gain control equally chop-chop.

But I don't really know what the time to come holds.

I've heard my parents and my cousins and some opposing opinions out there saying, "Oh, you accept to be realistic. You know China's not going to bow down to Hongkongers. China's not going to listen to yous." Of course we know that. Information technology'due south similar fighting a giant, and nosotros know the chances are slim. It's non like we're dumb. Information technology's not like we don't know this is difficult.

It feels impossible to brand the Hong Kong government stand downwards considering even though they accept suspended the neb, I don't recollect they're going to withdraw it. I think the authorities thinks they've already made a compromise. So with all these farther protests, I call back the government thinks we're being crybabies.

The goal is starting to get blurry. I don't think a lot of Hongkongers have a vision of what the future should look like. We know what we don't want it to be like — we know nosotros don't want to become like China. Just nosotros likewise don't really know what's possible, what's the realistic solution to save Hong Kong.

I don't know what we should practise because I experience all these protests, they're non really working. The government'south not really listening to us. They just think we're rioters, they think we're making problem. Those who just desire a normal life — they don't sympathize because they remember we're just messing Hong Kong up; they think we're being likewise demanding.

Protesters hold placards and shout slogans during a rally against the extradition law proposal on June ix, 2019, in Hong Kong.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Information technology makes me worried considering every time I think about what Hong Kong will feel like later this 50-yr lease, I become scared. I don't know what's going to happen. I hope Mainland china volition still requite u.s. autonomy, but it's not very likely. I don't know how we can become Hong Kong to stay the manner information technology is.

If nosotros don't win ... I don't recall we can win. But I merely feel similar we should do something, even though there's a slim chance. At least we're trying. Maybe sometimes, trying isn't good enough.

I'1000 merely a normal citizen, I don't really have that much power. We thought with the G20 briefing [in June,] nosotros could go assist from the Us or the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, merely apparently they're non going to help united states. [President Donald] Trump has said he was hoping China and Hong Kong could work it out. That's an obvious "no" to Hong Kong.

US President Donald Trump and Communist china's President Eleven Jinping attend a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Meridian in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

It just feels like we're abased. We've always been.

I used to retrieve that I could build a family here, and possibly my kids could have a future hither. I can grow old in Hong Kong. Just I don't call up I can still do that because it wouldn't be the Hong Kong I used to know. It wouldn't be the Hong Kong I love. I don't think I can stay hither.

A lot of people I know, they're thinking the same mode. Whenever I tell people I'm studying in England soon, they'll be like, "Oh, good for you, you should leave as presently as you tin can." Anybody says that.

Most of my friends, and fifty-fifty my parents, they don't similar the protests at all. They retrieve we're just making trouble. They think Hong Kong is fine as information technology is. They don't really mind China taking over.

One of my grandmothers grew up in mainland Red china, and the other one, she grew up in Hong Kong. The one who grew up in Hong Kong thinks all these protesters are just mobs and gangs because she'south always thought Hong Kong was a good identify and we're ruining it.

Merely my grandmother from the mainland, she knows how awful the [ruling Chinese] Communist Party was because she lived through the Cultural Revolution. So she supports me going to the protests, simply she doesn't agree with the violence.

It was really touching when she told me she supports me, because almost all of my family doesn't back up me going to the protests. She's the only one who does. Just she still worries because of how violent this has go, like all those people getting hurt by the police.

Information technology'due south just sad to come across. The police used to exist okay, simply now it's just a clear carve up because most citizens hate the police, and the police hate citizens too. At that place'south a mutual hatred. I'yard sure that some of the police, they're just doing their jobs. Some of them just desire order; they just want to protect the urban center.

Simply some of them definitely have bad intentions. There's this hatred being built upwards inside the police and they just think, "Oh, you all hate us, then fine, nosotros can apply our power to suppress it," or something.

I hope it doesn't end with the People's Liberation Regular army [China's military]. I don't call back it will happen. Hong Kong is nevertheless pretty international. Merely if China wants us to exist ruined, I think there's no stopping them.

The protests actually made me love Hong Kong even more. It tin never go back to the way it was, so I'thou really going to miss how information technology used to be. I come across how Mainland china is slowly taking control and the civilisation is slowly seeping in.

It's scary. I never actually realized how scary the situation is. I never really thought about the expiration date. I thought, "I'm going to be and then sometime by then." But I'm not going to be that old! I'yard going to be, like, 40 or 50. Now it only hits me. There's so fiddling fourth dimension left.

"The city is ill now."

—C.K., 39, counselor at a nongovernmental organization

How practice I see the future of Hong Kong? Horrible! Simply I still have hope.

The extradition bill was ridiculous, and it was the triggering point for everyone. Suddenly, people, we are like, "We take to stick together and use this chance to unfold our needs, our wounds, to the regime."

There is a lot of arguing. There are a lot of brainwashed people, and the metropolis is sick now. People are blaming each other. In that location are lots of family fights. It may not exist physical, but verbal. There are lots of families in crisis.

I am supporting the protesters by giving to a back up grouping because at that place are so many people who seem depressed. The participants in the group, they may non be protesters themselves, but they are supporting the protesters. Some of them are on the front end lines, though. We take a small group, and they can express what they are concerned about, and how they deal with the difficulties over this recent situation in Hong Kong.

Mostly, there are some common elements among the participants. First, low. 2nd, family conflict. Third, hopelessness. The hopelessness was then strong recently. I think you know that i million people took to the street. So two one thousand thousand people. And still there's no result.

Protesters occupy a street demanding Hong Kong master executive Carrie Lam step down after a rally against the now-suspended extradition pecker exterior of the Chief Executive Office on June 17, 2019, in Hong Kong.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Most of them are suffering. People on the front lines, they are suffering by not getting support from others, or being named rioters. In that location are those who say, "I am supporting the government, and y'all guys, you lot're similar children. You are naughty, ridiculous. Not willing to take any responsibility." Blaming the protesters.

Merely they are besides worried about their children; they think the younger generation is getting brainwashed past overseas governments. At that place are lots of rumors.

For some people like me, who are not working on the front lines but are supporting the protesters, they may not have a space to talk about it, or are hiding lots of things that a group of peers can talk nigh.

"Political views are fierce the city, this gild, autonomously."

—Tim, 26, finance professional person

The whole movement has evolved. It's about democracy and the corruption between gangsters and police force. It'south non but the extradition bill now.

With the 5 demands, at that place'south brusque-term and long-term goals. Short-term is, of course, withdraw the nib completely. But I don't think that if [Hong Kong] chief executive [Carrie Lam] said she'd withdraw the bill tomorrow, we will cooperate. It'due south not going to happen. We are at present maxim she has to agree on all v demands.

The primary executive still has not responded to any of our demands. She keeps saying she won't promise anything to united states and nosotros accept to stop our protests or stop the violence.

Personally, I would say if she launched an independent investigation into the police, I remember some of the crowd will only go away. The distrust betwixt police and citizens has never been this bad before. During 1 of the airport protests, the slogan was "Don't trust Hong Kong constabulary," because of the manner the police force handled recent protests, shooting rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowds.

Police burn down tear gas during clashes with protesters at Kowloon Bay in Hong Kong on Baronial 24, 2019.

Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images

Universal suffrage is ane of the nigh important demands. It's the root cause of everything, and it's for the long-term benefits for the whole Hong Kong society. I recall that is the most of import demand, fifty-fifty more than starting an contained investigation into the police.

Hong Kong deserves democracy. Earlier these ii months of protests, I felt similar no one wanted to sacrifice. No ane wanted to get out and fight against the government. Simply now I think Hong Kong people actually intendance about the city. They love the metropolis, and they are not selfish.

Protesters are too helping each other. They buy nutrient and they purchase gear and medical supplies for the front lines. They share like they are families, though we don't e'er prove many parts of our face and we don't even know each other. Afterward a dark, we may never meet again, but we nevertheless assistance each other, considering we share the same goal. Nosotros love this urban center.

Some of the protesters, they don't have much coin; they're actually starving all the time. Nigh of them demand to buy defensive gear. In restaurants, they'll order a tiny portion, the cheapest nutrient. Or white bread to become full when they're not having a proper meal.

They give up all of their savings and their summers, and they actually said they're set to die or ready to get arrested and put in jail for years. ... I am touched considering they are ready to give up their lives.

I heard from others that some of the protesters are putting messages in their backpack for their families, in case something happens.

Most of the 1990s and 1980s generations know the value of freedom and democracy. However, the older generations like my mom and dad — those in their 50s or 60s — they will focus more on the economy, and so they tin can feed their families and they tin can take shelter and they can earn money. Getting enough money to alive is the most important thing to them.

But for the younger generation, of grade, we are affected by the British government organisation. Democracy and freedom, freedom of speech, are the basic values of society. We value that more than money or security because we know that coin's not everything. Nosotros're really thinking longer term, and we want our generation to accept a better society.

For my mom and dad's generation, they call up eventually China will accept over. Just for the younger generation, we retrieve nosotros can at least fight for what we deserve and what is stated in the law. We will try as difficult as possible to at least make it to 2047. Some are saying that we tin deal to expand the "i country, two systems" rule forever, or at to the lowest degree extend it for some other 50 years.

No 1 knows what Beijing will do later on 2047. But at least we are strongly against them accelerating to 1 country, 1 system rules. Nosotros desire to keep what we have — and what is stated in the law.

But his [President Xi Jinping'south] whole motion has divided the society into two opposing sides. The pro-democracy role and the pro-Beijing part is fighting more than aggressively than before. Political views are tearing the city, this order, autonomously.

My mom and dad are actually more accepting of the idea that freedom and democracy are important. Only my girlfriend and her family are pro-China, and nosotros frequently have political arguments. She actually disagrees, and she gets mad when I'm going out to protest. She said, "The people going to protest are harming the economy, and harming the retail sales in Hong Kong." And she said, "Fifty-fifty if anybody goes out to the street to protest, the government won't mind to you; you lot can't exercise annihilation."

She thinks that if people take the time to go to the protest, why don't they remember [near] how to earn more money or contribute to society, or even go rest? Those who are pro-China think commonwealth volition slow downwards the development of their society. They don't believe in democracy, and so they recall what the government does is normally correct.

They merely care virtually what they have now, and that information technology won't affect them. From now [until] 2047, we still have, similar, xxx years. And my girlfriend will probably retire after 30 years. And her father volition probably dice, non even exist alive afterwards 30 years. And so I think they are more — I don't want to use the give-and-take selfish, but I can't find another discussion.

They think this fifty-fifty for the extradition bill. They will say, "If y'all are a perfect citizen, or y'all obey the law, and so the extradition bill doesn't affair for yous." That you just be a perfect citizen and it'due south fine.

But China is not post-obit the rules, and they often lock up people who have dissimilar political views, people who are confronting the authorities, non listening to them, who slightly disagree.

I'1000 sure I'm not alone in my situation. I actually saw some articles online, on forums, people having the aforementioned issue. Actually, 1 of my skillful friends, his girlfriend is too pro-Communist china. I remember xc per centum of my friends are pro-commonwealth. Simply of class, there are some in the younger generation, similar my girlfriend, who are pro-Prc. It is actually tearing us apart.

"Being away, I'm aware that Hong Kong has very petty infinite to maneuver."

—Anonymous, 21, born and raised in Hong Kong but currently based in Europe

I feel exhausted.

I think anyone you talk to is exhausted. I think being abroad is its own kind of heaviness considering you are plugged into [the] Hong Kong time zone 24/7. And in my case, I'm but looking at the same live updates every bit anybody else. I'yard just watching what'south happening and trying to back up how I tin.

Of course, I'grand very sad that I tin't be at that place to participate physically in the protests. Merely I do experience role of the movement considering I can apply my skills in other ways and use my fourth dimension to support the fight on a unlike front, while too participating in discussions and keeping in contact and caring for the people I do know who are on the front lines, or who are participating in the more peaceful rallies, or who are discussing all of these things.

I feel all the same a function of it. And I think that'due south really incredible.

There's definitely a feeling of responsibleness that comes with the feeling of sadness and anger and even guilt of being away. I hateful, you have to contextualize the fact that the reason I'thou personally able to be away is because I have the resources to do so. And lots of people who are away are able to be in the diaspora because they have a particular citizenship or they accept the particular economic resources.

But I call up that makes me experience more responsible for doing some of the outreach work and understanding the different nuances of the political situation in Europe, in the U.s.a., in Canada, in order to support people on the footing.

Hongkongers abroad are working really hard to sympathize the specific ways that Hong Kong fits into their corresponding governments' agendas and how they tin can pursue lobbying efforts in those particular ways.

There's been really big campaigns crowdfunded on LIHKG — people describe it equally the Reddit of Hong Kong, but information technology's basically a website of forums. And there's self-initiated crowdfunding campaigns to put paper ads in various global newspapers. So there's Stand up With Hong Kong, which is i of the campaigns. It bought ads in the Guardian, the Evening Standard, and the Telegraph in the Great britain, for example.

And so for me, personally, I've been engaged in trying to translate outward and getting the on-the-ground perspective out at that place.

It'southward complicated considering Hong Kong is in this very specific historical and geopolitical situation. In general, I think Hongkongers are just trying to entreatment to the image that the international community has of Hong Kong, especially since the 2014 Umbrella Move, of a group of people, a city, that has fought so hard for so long.

But information technology's been difficult because it doesn't fit neatly into whatsoever detail geopolitical narrative. It appeals to a lot of US Republicans because it has this kind of anti-China, anti-communist, "Communist with a capital C" narrative. Just there are likewise people in Hong Kong who are not very happy with the way that the US Democrats, or the left, the general left, has responded.

For example, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted something, and recently Elizabeth Warren has tweeted her back up, and Hillary Clinton tweeted her support. But I call back there's some full general dissatisfaction with Hong Kong'southward position equally this card that's constantly played past different actors whenever it'due south convenient for them, whether it'due south as a fiscal power or as the gateway to China in the past, or now equally this forepart confronting China, when in fact, the real demands of Hongkongers have always been democracy, preservation of our way of life, and self-determination.

Organized, civil, & massive nonviolent pro-democracy straight actions have been happening in Hong Kong, as well - in this instance, to expand ceremonious liberties & demonstrate against an extradition beak.

Pay attention. These are hundreds of thousands of people organizing & showing up ⬇️ https://t.co/UxELVqhJam

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 29, 2019

I think having the altitude allows me to see that Hong Kong is in a very difficult position in terms of geopolitics. When you're on the footing, equally in whatever political situation, you lot kind of think that your disharmonize is at the epicenter of all conflicts. And information technology makes total sense. Of course that is your preoccupation when y'all could literally be arrested walking downward the street, as has happened to many people. Similar if yous just happened to have some light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation pointers in your bag or y'all're just walking by a protest that'southward happening.

But being abroad, I'k aware that Hong Kong has very little infinite to maneuver. The protests take to fit into a very detail narrative in the media. Hongkongers are relying very much on sympathetic foreign media reporting to brand their voices heard. Otherwise, there'due south this feeling, rightfully so, that no i will care.

Then you lot would meet people being like, "Save Hong Kong! Donald Trump, save Hong Kong!" Non because they're stupid or because they're naive, but but basically because they're then drastic and in a position where otherwise, who else would help us in this very precarious state of affairs?

But from abroad, it looks a chip weird. It looks kind of naive and it looks kind of juvenile. It as well fuels the burn that Red china has where information technology's like, "Foreign interference. Hong Kong only wants American interference into our affairs," which is not really what's happening.

So I think that's what I run into. Simply this disconnect betwixt what Hongkongers expected [from] the international customs and what the so-called international customs is able to really give concretely to Hong Kong.

I'chiliad 21. I was born in the yr that Hong Kong was handed over, so it's kind of interesting for me considering when I plough l, Hong Kong will no longer be in the electric current position that it is in now. For me, personally, and some others that I've spoken to, information technology feels similar an expiry date, simply for something that we're not sure what the outcome will be.

I think the fact that people are reacting and then strongly to the extradition bill, and to increasing amounts of police brutality, is that nosotros are seeing that this could be what lies on the horizon in 2047 happening at present.

I recall the ability to imagine alternatives is always constrained past this endpoint that nosotros have. I don't actually know what will happen adjacent, and information technology'due south kind of a daunting prospect. There's a lot of fear that Hong Kong will simply cease to exist every bit it does at present. Evidently, that's non literally going to happen. Hong Kong is still going to exist, but nosotros don't know what will exist left. And politically, it's changing. Societally, it'southward changing.

There'due south as well an sensation that the political system just doesn't work. We had lawmakers who were democratically elected exist disqualified because they did their oaths [of function] in a mode to express their discontent of swearing fidelity to China. Prosecutions are politicized. All of these things signal that our political organisation is substantially rigged.

So people are turning to more grassroots, cocky-initiated protest. And that's why this movement has in particular been and then successful. Because it's leaderless and people really are just discussing things on the go, in Telegram groups. And because everyone organizes anonymously, no 1 knows who each other is, really.

This creates security concerns, but information technology besides is an egalitarian, equalizing strength. Anybody can participate in the position that they're in. There'south this incredible solidarity that keeps united states going, even though we don't know who we organize with. If you have the same politics, then we tin can piece of work together. Nosotros can self-criticize and reflect.

It also means that nosotros have to accept responsibility for ourselves and reverberate. The whole motto that undergirds the motility — the translation is something similar, "No partitioning, no blame, no separation."

People are ever saying, you know, I could literally exist correct next to you correct now, talking to yous on the internet. You wouldn't know. I could be in the same function. And nosotros protect each other'southward anonymity because it's something we should do equally a part of taking care of each other and taking responsibility for ourselves and our families. Keeping them safe.

Information technology'due south actually amazing because we are united not by a leader, but by principles that we believe in, demands that nosotros believe in.

"They're not scared of the things that they used to be."

—Chan, 21, student studying in the UK and back in Hong Kong for the summer

I started to practice first assistance on June 12, the first solar day the police started shooting tear gas at the protesters. I felt like being a first-aider would be more useful. To be honest, though, none of us were really ready. We required gear and things similar that so that nosotros could be condom. All of us, even the first-aiders, we only had N95 [surgical] masks, which is useless against tear gas.

So basically all of the states were kind of frightened virtually the incidents, because it was really crazy during that day. The police shot lots of tear gas.

That get-go 24-hour interval, people were affected by pepper spray or tear gas or other kinds of small injuries. Now things have changed. I don't know how, but all the protesters got gear. They either bought it or someone gave information technology to them because some of the people, they buy gear so just pass it around for the protesters. So people are not that scared of tear gas anymore.

In fact, when the police shot [the tear canisters] at us, the protesters tried to throw it back to them, which is actually a significant change. A month ago, everyone was so scared, and the start-aiders were under really large pressure considering everyone got injure. But now people have actually gotten used to the state of affairs.

Protesters face up riot police during an anti-regime rally in Wong Tai Sin district on August 24, 2019, in Hong Kong.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Now information technology's more like they need the first-aider to deal with accidents. People fall on the ground or become injured when they try to run away. We are dealing with that kind of situation more often than we used to. And so aye, things changed. And in that location are more than and more start-aiders now, and so it'south more than organized, I would say.

We are not an official team. We're just a grouping of people that got our certificates and we're willing to help the injured. We were but a bunch of people who went to the protestation and we got to know each other because we told other people that nosotros were the first-aiders. Other people grouped all of us together. But before that, we didn't know each other.

Most of the time, people don't really know what the situation is, so they'll ask for a outset-aider when they see an injury. People pass around the message actually quickly. When they demand something, peculiarly a first-aider, they volition shout out, "Nosotros demand get-go assist correct hither!" Nosotros merely run straight to the person and perform. Information technology'south style quicker now. It's quite easy.

People are injured past safety bullets, tear gas, pepper spray. It happens a lot. Just I would say that people are getting braver and braver these days. That'southward why we are getting more worried and more worried most the situation, because they're not scared anymore.

They're not scared of the things that they used to be, and that's why in that location are more than chances for them to become injured. Information technology'southward actually easy now if I'm there and dealing with the situation, because people are always trying to become up [and confront] the constabulary, which is not a skilful thing for us. More than people getting hurt.

But I would say it'south a good thing for the protest itself, because it means at that place'due south no more than — I don't know how to say information technology. People are doing stuff that's actually changing the whole situation, considering they're not scared.

A month agone, people realized silence and not taking whatever action means the authorities is non going to answer for annihilation — which, they're nevertheless non answering annihilation correct now. Only if you're forced to brand something happen, there tin can be a chance.

It'southward like the incident in the airport. Fifty-fifty though some people may say, "It affected a lot of people and it shouldn't be like that." Just in terms of making the government or forcing the regime to change, it'southward probably one of the best options.

I don't know what the authorities is trying to practise. Simply in the gild of Hong Kong correct at present, it's pretty much the police against the citizen. Correct now we only accept one enemy, which is the authorities and the police. That'southward why people work together actually well. The regime, they're however not answering whatsoever of our requests, and they're always trying to avoid answering questions. That'south why people tend to exist more — I wouldn't say aggressive, only exist more agile with the protest.

For me, I would say Hong Kong deserves to be a place where nosotros tin actually accept our ain republic. Nosotros're not People's republic of china even so. Nosotros belong to China, merely we're not Cathay. Nosotros work differently. How the mainlanders think is dissimilar than us. We have our own values of guild, and our ain points of view, and we desire to proceed that. Nosotros don't want to lose it.

We don't want to be like Communist china because nosotros don't trust the Chinese authorities. And I recall we can actually [succeed] by making our own government.

If you don't do anything, so it'south impossible to brand something happen. But if we are trying, if all of u.s. are trying, there may be a possibility of that kind of time to come. Only nosotros volition run across. Nosotros're not sure yet, but nosotros just want to work for it. We call back there'south a possibility. Even if small-scale, we even so desire to do it.

It'southward going to be actually long until nosotros achieve some of the goals. Simply otherwise, nosotros're not going to stop, I recall.

They are ii sides, mainly, in Hong Kong correct now. One is beingness chosen the yellowish side, and the other one is blue side. If you are on the blue side, you support the police more the protesters. If you lot're on the yellow side, you lot back up the protesters more the constabulary.

I think there are more than people turning to yellow correct now; people are starting to be more supportive.

They used to shout at the people, saying that you lot shouldn't be agonizing our society by stopping the MTR [Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway] or things like that. But now people are more than supportive about that because they call back, "Yep, they are doing something right for some people."

I recall, beginning of all, the majority of the protesters, they only want to make the things happen. They don't care of how nosotros make it happen or who is the leader or who is leading us or anything, considering all of us want one same thing, no thing what are we doing. Maybe we're doing different things, perchance we're doing opposite things, but when we know we are trying to make ane aforementioned matter happen, in that location's no argument.

Like, for example, if I hold on doing things in the airport, I go to the airport. For some people, if they don't agree on that, they will help in other ways, and they would just go online; you will simply go on media and try to search and see if they can exercise anything else. That is pretty much why, even if nosotros don't have a leader, people know what to do.

I remember people are kind of used to the protests, afterwards all. People are like, "Oh, yes, we go protest and and so we go back to our normal routine, and and then we get protest, and and so we go back to our normal routine." Since information technology's a actually high-pressure level lodge, every minute matters.

They will go to protest, and then the next day, if they do demand to practice annihilation, they will just do their job, practise their piece of work, go back to school. And the adjacent 24-hour interval, if they need to come out again, they volition just come out. Which may be kind of strange for other countries, just I call back it's getting normal in Hong Kong.

Before the protest happened, I wasn't proud of beingness a office of Hong Kong, because I'm non a natural Hong Kong denizen. But at present I volition say I'k really proud of my homeland, Hong Kong. Where else could you see a peaceful protest by 2 one thousand thousand people? If you have 2 million people protest anywhere else — for example, in the U.k. or the States — that is going to be a mess. Just in Hong Kong, it's a peaceful ane.

And people help each other a lot. A lot. People value money a lot in Hong Kong, and people always expect to exist kind of selfish, going to earn more and more money, but from this protest, people will start to remember, "Perchance democracy, maybe life, is fashion more than important than just coin itself."

Then you will get-go to sacrifice more than, just for that. Rich people willing to help the poor ones, because they think the poor ones actually endeavor to do more, and older people starting to respect the young ones because the young ones actually come out.

Some people connect, [and] they never would accept if there isn't a protest like this. Now, in Hong Kong, people work together. I don't mean all people. Of grade there will be some people against gild of it. But almost of the people are really working together, which is amazing.

"I never knew that the police were capable of doing this."

—Jess, 20, student

It was the ninth of June when I first went out. Information technology was the first protest, ever, in my life.

At first, information technology was all about the extradition bill, there was no police violence yet. The bill turned Hong Kong into a city that I don't know. You go me? I studied in the UK for four years, but I was born here, I enjoyed the liberty. Hong Kong people don't actually trust the Chinese government that much, so I thought it's time to stand up, to represent the city that I grew upwards in, that I love, that I take a sense of belonging to.

The tensions with the police started when the police used excessive force on people who did not have any kind of defensive weapons or anything. The law are well-protected. They accept shields, they take everything, they are geared up.

I recall i of the first times tear gas was fired on the 12th of June. Then people started to have a conversation about the police firing too much tear gas. Carrie Lam, the chief executive, came out and said that she fully supported the police force, and that is when things accelerated. The regime did nothing to terminate it, and they even supported the acts. That is when the whole people-versus-police thing started.

A protester is detained past riot police during an anti-authorities rally in Kowloon Bay district on August 24, 2019, in Hong Kong.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

It didn't surprise me that the motion accelerated. The reaction from the government surprised me. I retrieve it's ridiculous, their reaction to everything. The ii meg people who protested. That protest, that was peaceful, and I thought that something would modify. I thought ii million protesters would brand a alter. But actually, it didn't. I think that was the one which surprised me the well-nigh.

So when the law reaction was and then strong and then when the regime started justifying their acts, then it becomes ruthless and no rules at all.

The matter is, as more than and more than people get hurt by the law, that outrages all the people. When the movement calms down for a bit and then there's new people getting beat up by the police — the police are firing tear gas at present, so in that location are more and more triggers.

The triggers never stop, and the triggers get more and more than serious. And that keeps the movement going.

One 24-hour interval, I was in the MTR and there were two policemen on the MTR. Everyone merely looked at the policeman with spite, like no one liked them. I recall they feel that, I think they feel information technology, too.

But I'm surprised past the police force violence. I never knew the police were capable of doing this. I'g surprised they fired tear gas. I wasn't involved in the Umbrella Revolution. I didn't follow it much, but I kind of knew what was going on, and it wasn't as bad every bit this time. The police are simply using excessive force. I'm merely speechless, honestly, on the police acts.

I never knew that there would exist and so many people who don't have a conscience at all. I see many comments, and basically they refer to protesters equally cockroaches, which outrages me. I study psychology, and I understand then much most the furnishings of dehumanization and how it affects people.

Information technology affects how the police force to treat the protesters because they don't meet them as humans. Fifty-fifty the police themselves apply the discussion cockroaches, and that is non right because they are the regime, and they're supposed to utilise moderate words. They're supposed to employ appropriate words, fifty-fifty with those who commit crimes.

My mom supported the protest, but she does not back up violence. She does the peaceful ones. She thinks that the youngsters are brave, but she doesn't want them to get hurt. My grandma went to Hong Kong after the Cultural Revolution in Prc, so all of my mother's side family hates the Communist Party very much.

My begetter is a businessman, so he doesn't really care about what's going on. He's British too, so he's like "Oh, if anything happens I'll just go back to the UK. Bye, Hong Kong."

I think the older generations have a burden. They are — there's quote from one of the authorities officers that says it's their harvest period right now. They work so difficult for their life, and they don't have and then many years left in Hong Kong.

But our youngsters, many of our youngsters, we don't have a selection. We have lxxx years left in Hong Kong, and if nosotros don't do this now, nosotros won't even accept a future, maybe. When it comes to the age when nosotros accept to work, it will be all dissimilar. Under the Chinese government, they can just take away annihilation if you don't please the government.

I think people are scared about this. Our model, what we have learned from a young age, is that if we piece of work hard, nosotros'll get what we want. If work hard, we'll be successful. Or if we piece of work hard, nosotros get our money.

Only if Hong Kong's law changes, if political interest changes, then it'southward not the same. It'southward the ones who support the government that can earn money and the ones who don't back up information technology will go to jail. Basically, the youngsters are fighting for their future.

If things go on accelerating like this, Hong Kong as an private city will disappear before 2047.

A protester holds a homemade sign that says "Shield of Liberty" as law and demonstrators clash during the sit-in in Hong Kong, August 24, 2019.

Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

I think the all-time consequence is that the regime backs downwards. If the government backs downwards, then no farther things volition happen. I think if the economy is threatened, then the businesspeople, the traders, and the rich people, they will talk to the [Chinese regime in the] upper-case letter [Beijing]. It'south their opinion that has weight; our opinion doesn't count. But if the economy is threatened, so maybe the authorities will back downwardly because of the bourgeoisie.

I think it'southward very interesting considering Hong Kong people'due south life goes on, no matter what happened in the previous solar day. Perchance the previous solar day constabulary were throwing tear gas, beating up random people in the street. Before, life would get on and nada would happen. Only at present, people'south life goes on, they are outraged, simply they programme for further movements.

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Source: https://www.vox.com/2019/8/28/20799049/hong-kong-protests-first-person

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