This is some shoddy coverage by the Washington Post, which misses the point of today's enormous march, and the reason it turned destructive. Hong Kongers were marching to ask America to pass a specific law, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Acthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hong-kong-protesters-call-on-trump-to-liberate-hong-kong/2019/09/08/4123008c-d215-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c_story.html …
-
-
This behavior comes against a background of shocking police violence, including an attack in a subway station on 8/31 that put several people in the hospital. Protesters have been demanding for days that the MTR or police release the footage from this police rampage, to no avail
Show this thread -
So the violence tonight was very deliberately targeted at MTR stations and public infrastructure (like traffic lights). Anyone who goes to Hong Kong protests sees that demonstrators don't destroy private property, or attack individuals. The police are the ones who hurt people.
Show this thread -
Reporters write about these demonstrations "descending into violence" as if it were a failure by Hong Kongers to keep their cool, keep the high road. The high road got them nothing in 2014, and nothing in 2019. When the police declares war on you, sometimes you have to fight back
Show this thread -
The Guardian, sadly, has an equally bad article out. Today's event was a specific request for the US to pass a specific law, but reporters have Trump on the brain.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/08/hong-kong-protesters-call-on-donald-trump-to-liberate-territory …
Show this thread -
The silver lining of all this is, if you're a US person, you should call your representative and ask them to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. It has broad bipartisan support! If we can move it through Congress quickly, it will help to deter Chinese intervention
Show this thread -
I will add as a coda that the only violence against people in these protests comes from the police. Tonight we had a major shopping area full of families tear gassed for no reason, a medic shot in the foot, and a press photographer targeted at close range with a tear gas grenade
Show this thread -
It's morning in America (just like Reagan promised), so won't you please take a few minutes to contact your representative, and urge them to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act? A phone call is always best. It is a small, important thing we can do to help Hong Kong
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.