For the past ten weeks, Hong Kong has been in the middle of ongoing protests that have taken to the streets and, recently, the local airport. The demonstrations were spurred by a controversial bill which would’ve allowed extraditions to mainland China where the Communist Party controls the courts. Since this time, though, the protests have grown into a bigger, all-encompassing pro-democracy campaign.
Hong Kong is technically a special administrative region which has its own government and economic systems. As one of the most expensive and densely populated cities in the world, it’s technically separate from mainland China; recently, however, Beijing has exerted more influence over Hong Kong. Activists, for instance, have been imprisoned and pro-democracy lawmakers have been barred from running or holding office. That’s even trickled down to independent booksellers. Those purveyors have disappeared from the city just to resurface on the mainland and face criminal charges.
Over time, the loss of a “high degree of autonomy” has fanned the flames of public anger and encouraged millions to demand change at the risk of personal safety. There’ve been aggressive tactics used by police against protestors including tear gas and rubber bullets. On July 21st, 2019, gangs of men attacked activists and commuters at a transit station, and on August 12th, a woman was hit in her eye (by a beanbag or rubber bullet) by police. Pro-democracy protesters, though, have committed to keeping this movement going until their demands are met and the city’s leader, Carrie Lam, resigns. Through it all, professional and amateur photographers have been documenting this important moment in history, capturing the chaos and passion of a nation at a potential turning point.
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For those in power who claim Hong Kong's youngsters are nothing but rioters, this is the tenderest retort. A young couple share a moment after finding respite from tear gas and advancing ranks of riot police in Mei Foo MTR station. #HK #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests #HKRomeoJuliet pic.twitter.com/vg7WrLvneJ
— James Pomfret (@jamespomfret) August 11, 2019
Protesters are standing covering their eye in honour of a woman who was hit in the eye by Hong Kong police - an event that triggered the airport protests today and yesterday pic.twitter.com/sCIea2KYBK
— Erin Hale (@erinhale) August 13, 2019
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