#PolyUSiege #HongKongProtests
A year into the pro-democracy movement and seven months since the PolyU siege
What did we learn? Did these actions remind us of our pain or struggle? Or did it remind us of what we have always been fighting for?
Seven months ago, on the evening of November 18, all Hongkongers with a conscience made some sort of an effort to rescue students and civilians entrapped inside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Teasing those at the scene, riot police threatened to “repeat the June 4 massacre” that took place in Beijing in 1989. No one took these words lightly because we knew the police was planning to kill and had put snipers in place. Riot police were seen holding AR-15 rifles that night, targeting anyone attempting to enter or leave the university.
A massive crowd responded to an online call for rescue actions, gathering on the streets of Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, marching towards PolyU. The crowd consisted of not only protest front-liners, but also office workers, parents and peaceful protesters. They chanted slogans and charged bravely amid incessant rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets fired on the scene.
The riot police did not make concession, but pulled in more reinforcement to clear out civilians who came to rescue.
Near Yau Ma Tei, a large number of civilians were caught in panic when riot police forced them into a narrow alley during a dispersing operation, risking a stampede tragedy. Police officers violently attacked those they arrested and deliberately delayed medical assistance for those in pressing need. They lied afterwards in press briefing that the police were attacked by thousands of rioters hurling bricks and molotov at them. They also claimed that amid the chaos, some rioters “tripped and fell”, refusing to admit that they were the culprit of the tragedy.
Later that night, a police officer was seen driving a white minibus in high speed into the protesting crowd on Nathan Road. The officer later shoved false argument saying that was a strategic consideration and “not a single action that put people’s life in danger was committed.”
A massive number of civilians was injured and arrested during the PolyU siege. While many citizens attempted various means to rescue those on campus and some did successfully escape, hundreds of underage students, volunteer medics and reporters only managed to leave the university days later. Their identities were “registered” by the police and indiscriminately deemed “rioters”.
More than a thousand civilians were arrested in the PolyU siege, including over 300 minors. Many were severely injured. Numerous videos capturing police brutality during the siege were shared on social media.
The following message was written on Nov 18 by students who stayed behind at the PolyU Campus:
“Retreating is to render our sacrifice meaningless.
We, the students, will stay behind till the last moment to witness how members of our school and our respectable teachers are forcing students into the deep abyss.
Give us liberty or give us death. We are not afraid of being arrested or losing our lives, because history will pronounce us not guilty.”
Source: Facebook
#Nov18 #NeverForget #NeverForgive #PoliceBrutality #PoliceState
A year into the pro-democracy movement and seven months since the PolyU siege
What did we learn? Did these actions remind us of our pain or struggle? Or did it remind us of what we have always been fighting for?
Seven months ago, on the evening of November 18, all Hongkongers with a conscience made some sort of an effort to rescue students and civilians entrapped inside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Teasing those at the scene, riot police threatened to “repeat the June 4 massacre” that took place in Beijing in 1989. No one took these words lightly because we knew the police was planning to kill and had put snipers in place. Riot police were seen holding AR-15 rifles that night, targeting anyone attempting to enter or leave the university.
A massive crowd responded to an online call for rescue actions, gathering on the streets of Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, marching towards PolyU. The crowd consisted of not only protest front-liners, but also office workers, parents and peaceful protesters. They chanted slogans and charged bravely amid incessant rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets fired on the scene.
The riot police did not make concession, but pulled in more reinforcement to clear out civilians who came to rescue.
Near Yau Ma Tei, a large number of civilians were caught in panic when riot police forced them into a narrow alley during a dispersing operation, risking a stampede tragedy. Police officers violently attacked those they arrested and deliberately delayed medical assistance for those in pressing need. They lied afterwards in press briefing that the police were attacked by thousands of rioters hurling bricks and molotov at them. They also claimed that amid the chaos, some rioters “tripped and fell”, refusing to admit that they were the culprit of the tragedy.
Later that night, a police officer was seen driving a white minibus in high speed into the protesting crowd on Nathan Road. The officer later shoved false argument saying that was a strategic consideration and “not a single action that put people’s life in danger was committed.”
A massive number of civilians was injured and arrested during the PolyU siege. While many citizens attempted various means to rescue those on campus and some did successfully escape, hundreds of underage students, volunteer medics and reporters only managed to leave the university days later. Their identities were “registered” by the police and indiscriminately deemed “rioters”.
More than a thousand civilians were arrested in the PolyU siege, including over 300 minors. Many were severely injured. Numerous videos capturing police brutality during the siege were shared on social media.
The following message was written on Nov 18 by students who stayed behind at the PolyU Campus:
“Retreating is to render our sacrifice meaningless.
We, the students, will stay behind till the last moment to witness how members of our school and our respectable teachers are forcing students into the deep abyss.
Give us liberty or give us death. We are not afraid of being arrested or losing our lives, because history will pronounce us not guilty.”
Source: Facebook
#Nov18 #NeverForget #NeverForgive #PoliceBrutality #PoliceState
#Breaking #Arrests
Police Arrest Pro-democracy Activists and Former Lawmakers Ray Chan, Chu Hoi-dick and Ted Hui
According to the Facebook pages of #RayChan, #ChuHoiDick and #TedHui, the three pro-democracy activists were arrested by the police at their homes on the morning of November 18, 2020.
The case was reportedly connected to the legislative council (#LegCo) meeting on June 4, 2020, where the three then-lawmakers protested against the third reading of the National Anthem Bill.
The police accused Hui of breaching the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance Cap.382 with the charge of comtempt, as he spilled smelly liquid on the floor of the chamber and "caused the LegCo chair to feel disturbed and mentally distressed".
Chan and Chu resigned from the LegCo in Oct, as they refused to let the term be extended by the CCP without an election; Hui joined the recent mass resignation.
Source: Ray Chan's Facebook; Eddie Chu's Facebook; Ted Hui's Facebook #Nov18
#NationalAnthemLaw #PoliceState
Police Arrest Pro-democracy Activists and Former Lawmakers Ray Chan, Chu Hoi-dick and Ted Hui
According to the Facebook pages of #RayChan, #ChuHoiDick and #TedHui, the three pro-democracy activists were arrested by the police at their homes on the morning of November 18, 2020.
The case was reportedly connected to the legislative council (#LegCo) meeting on June 4, 2020, where the three then-lawmakers protested against the third reading of the National Anthem Bill.
The police accused Hui of breaching the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance Cap.382 with the charge of comtempt, as he spilled smelly liquid on the floor of the chamber and "caused the LegCo chair to feel disturbed and mentally distressed".
Chan and Chu resigned from the LegCo in Oct, as they refused to let the term be extended by the CCP without an election; Hui joined the recent mass resignation.
Source: Ray Chan's Facebook; Eddie Chu's Facebook; Ted Hui's Facebook #Nov18
#NationalAnthemLaw #PoliceState