Hong Kong's Pro Democracy Protests Turn Violent!

Police discharged tear gas and fired rubber bullets in the air Sunday in a failed attempt to scatter pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong who appear to pose the greatest test yet for China’s “one country, two systems” approach to governing the former British protectorate.

Although their ranks had dissipated, thousands of demonstrators pushed back against the police and were still clogging parts of central Hong Kong on Monday, stubbornly refusing to leave.

“The people of Hong Kong want freedom and want democracy!” a protest leader yelled into a megaphone as demonstrators — many of them university students — donned goggles, covered themselves in plastic wrap and held up umbrellas to shield themselves in case they were hit with tear gas or pepper spray. “Redeem the promise of a free election!” chanted the crowd.

The territory’s 7 million citizens do enjoy significantly greater civil liberties — including freedom of speech — than their counterparts in mainland China. But the voting guidelines issued by mainland authorities in August sparked fierce condemnation among certain segments of Hong Kong’s populace.

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of democracy protesters paralyzed major thoroughfares in the city, demanding that China rescind the election rules, which would give Beijing the power to determine the candidates for chief executive of the territory. Phalanxes of police in riot gear responded with force, creating a tableau of chaos and confrontation that was highly unusual for this well-mannered global financial hub.

As the protests continued early Monday, sit-ins spread to areas far removed from the government headquarters that had been the target of dissent. Some demonstrators erected makeshift barricades in the streets.

The demonstrators were orderly and nonviolent, but determined. After police charged with tear gas, the protesters pushed back. The police retreated and by sunrise Monday were largely isolated to one entrance of the government compound.

Protest leaders issued a set of demands, including repeal of the new election framework; resignation of the city’s unpopular top official, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying; and the reopening of a public plaza within the main government compound to allow for protests. University students who boycotted classes last week said they would continue their walkouts this week, and urged workers to go on strike as well.

Willy Lam, an expert on Chinese politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, described the weekend’s events as a “massive show of force by the Chinese and Hong Kong government against an agitated Hong Kong public that is increasingly mad.” (TIME)