A New Decade

As cities around the world count down to send off the end to a decade and rejoice in the arrival of 2020. Hong Kong people poured out onto the streets to reaffirm their will to seek freedom and democracy for their city.

A protester couple kissing through their masks in Mong Kok as they celebrate the end of the decade. Credits: Stand News/Peter Wong from HongKong

To celebrate the New Year, organizers called for people to attend the New Year Day rally which saw more than 1 million Hong Kongers venturing out in support.

Two hours late yet still so many people! Go Hong Kong I’m proud of you all from HongKong

Due to the overwhelming amount of people gathering at the rally point, Charter Gardens, the march began ahead of schedule to accommodate the amount of attendees.

Despite receiving the “No Objection” letter from the HKPF, police called off the march ahead of schedule due to isolated incidents of Chinese Mainland business storefronts that were defaced in protest of their communist ties. The police also made outrageous demands to peaceful demonstrators that they had to disperse within 30 minutes or risked being persecuted for illegal assembly. Many demonstrators are elders or families with children that were on foot, in order to disperse in a safe and orderly fashion it required patience. However the police cleared the streets in their typical intimidating and violent manners.

1658 Police rushed and pepper sprayed peaceful marchers and reporters for no apparent reason and with no warning. from HongKong

[01.01] Hong Kong Police terrorist intimidate couple & point flashlight at citizens eye. [English subtitles] from HongKong

Meanwhile there were also “plain clothes officers” with police equipment parading around intimidating demonstrators. Inflicting fear into the city and threatening the peace of the streets.

These are Hong Kong Police. from HongKong

Do you call this a police? 1/1 protest from HongKong

Due to the large turnout of people, by nightfall there were still many demonstrators on the streets. As a result, the police also escalated their brutality by deploying their water cannon truck, pepper spray and began mass arresting people in Causeway Bay.

They were also threatening to use rubber bullets on reporters who were there to report on the situation.

7:21 Times Square from HongKong

police demanded 1.03 million protestor to evacuate in thirty minutes from HongKong

Police wants to kill all the protesters!!!!!!!!! from HongKong

Once word got out police began arresting people who were on the streets, several legislative councillors arrived at scene monitoring the situation, to ensure those persecuted aren’t treated unfairly. However, the scene quickly escalated with the police losing control of themselves.

LegCo member Ted Hui gets his mask ripped off as police tries to pepper spray his face point blank. Video from @studioincendo on Twitter from HongKong

As we enter 2020, the road to true democracy for Hong Kong will not be easy but the Hong Kong people have time and time again displayed their Lion’s Rock mentality, and their spirits will not be shaken by the Communist Party’s iron fist.