To people trying to compile protest tips from Hong Kong. Sure, protesters can learn from each other. But I spent a lot of time in Hong Kong as a researcher and both the police and their movement are *very* different. Importing methods uncritically can be *really* dangerous.
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The rules-of-engagement, norms and availability of guns etc. are quite different in Hong Kong. I'm not saying Hong Kong police are nice; there have been numerous documented instances of terrible conduct. But it really is different. Please don't uncritically try to import methods.
1 reply 50 retweets 228 likesShow this thread -
Also many of the "gee-whiz look at advanced Hong Kong protest methods" posts you see are by people who don't understand protests or Hong Kong or police—instead, they're often people literally making stuff up to go viral—or a combination of geek fantasies and orientalism. Be wary.
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Reality: Hong Kong protesters *are* remarkably tenacious and persistent and creative. But the most consistent thing they've done is show up again and again and again to put their bodies on the line and got their heads bashed in by the police. No liquid nitrogen magic trick here.
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That said, when I saw Hong Kong protesters use a badminton racket to bounce back tear gas canisters? That was wild.
Hadn't ever seen it anywhere else. I think I have it on video! (That said, don't try it here! The canister size here is different. Plus the police are different!)8 replies 28 retweets 232 likesShow this thread -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted your mutual
Yes, there's a lot of very interesting aspects to the organizational side of Hong Kong protests. I have my own research and others have written up a lot. That side is important to study and reflect upon. Street tactics, much less so due to differences.https://twitter.com/bayes_baes/status/1268281845235412992 …
zeynep tufekci added,
your mutual @bayes_baesReplying to @zeynepyeah... the heavy militarization of the US police and us city geography makes most of the HK tactics inapplicable. a lot of it is just dangerous advice but stuff like coming up with consensus on demands or other ways to keep momentum to keep showing up is worth learning1 reply 29 retweets 131 likesShow this thread
zeynep tufekci Retweeted zeynep tufekci
Also, since we're discussion this, here's a thread considering various protest risks, along with some harm-reduction advice for the pandemic as well as safety advice.https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1267890489505824769 …
zeynep tufekci added,
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Replying to @zeynep
I support the protests, but do you need to mislead? "there are very few known cases of outdoor transmission at all" is BS, and you know it. Italy's cases started during an OUTDOOR soccer match. New Orleans got going BECAUSE OF MARDI GRAS!
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