Today's march in Hong Kong is a textbook example of why "violent" and "peaceful" protests are not categories you can meaningfully use here. Something like a hundred thousand people attempted to march. They got a letter of no objection, planned the route, all to no avail
-
Show this thread
-
Since August, we've seen the same tactic applied against all peaceful marches. The police step on their tail, either by unilaterally declaring them over hours before the allowed time, or by firing tear gas or pepper spray over some manufactured pretext. They try to draw a foul.
2 replies 103 retweets 300 likesShow this thread -
The police are obviously not scared for their safety. Thousands of people filed past small groups of cops today. But the police use the threat of tear gas, pepper spray, and arrest as punishment. I saw police threaten to raise the blue flag because they were being called names
2 replies 73 retweets 240 likesShow this thread -
The march funneled a very large crowd into a pair of elevated roads from which there was no way to escape except by merging back very slowly at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Police then tear gassed the tail end of the march. It's a wonder nobody was hurt in the panic.
1 reply 69 retweets 233 likesShow this thread -
The problem with calling for peaceful marches is that withot good faith by the police, people are sitting ducks. The police surround the route, use riot control weapons anyway, and elderly people and kids end up in the crossfire. The message cops want to send is "stay home"
2 replies 134 retweets 350 likesShow this thread -
By police logic, this makes sense. But the problem is that six months in, the government is still trying to solve a political problem with police violence. They had a window of opportunity to make a meaningful gesture during a peaceful interval after the election. Now that's over
2 replies 100 retweets 304 likesShow this thread -
Summary of today's events: 10:30 AM Hong Kong parents march on Government House in a sanctioned "Don't Tear Gas Our Kids" event on Hong Kong Island 5:00 PM Hong Kong police tear gases their kids at a sanctioned march in Tsim Sha Tsui
4 replies 131 retweets 284 likesShow this thread -
The last peaceful march I can think of with over 100K people that was allowed to go through start to finish without police harrasment was August 18. Please correct me if I'm wrong. The government wasted a window for reconciliation and concessions then, too.
2 replies 57 retweets 211 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @Pinboard
but please can we have more opinion pieces about how HK protesters should stick to peaceful forms of protest only
1 reply 0 retweets 14 likes -
Replying to @stegersaurus
Maybe
@iandenisjohnson can visit again and teach people by example how it's done.2 replies 0 retweets 7 likes
I'm 100% ready to join the expat/foreigner "You're Doing It Wrong" demonstration march. Just line the streets and observe us. It's the least we can do for Hong Kong!
-
-
Zomg a white savior march. Hell yes. Complimentary pearl necklaces should be given out to marchers to clutch. Upon request, of course.
0 replies 0 retweets 2 likesThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
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.