ProtestBlog.org, 2019 In the midst of clashes between police and protestors in Hong Kong, a young woman was shot in her right eye by police with a gas canister, requiring extensive surgery the success of which only time will tell. Since then, her eye has become a symbol of struggle, of protest, for the youth of Hong Kong.
We have sought to provide a platform for the youth of Hong Kong to speak out and share their stories. Our mission is to provide a safe space to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and to stand in solidarity with the protesters. We invite you to join us in our quest for justice and freedom.
The Hong Kong protests began in June 2019 in response to a proposed extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to China to face trial. Since then, the protests have grown in intensity and scope, with demonstrators demanding full democracy, an independent inquiry into police brutality, and the eventual withdrawal of the extradition bill.
The movement has been led by a diverse group of people and is unique in its reliance on digital media and technology to create a global movement. Across continents, young people from Hong Kong and those who join in solidarity with them, close their online video calls by covering their right eye with their hand, a reference to a young female protester who was injured by police during a demonstration. This injury has served to fortify and broaden the struggle, focusing it on police brutality as well as Communist Chinese hegemony.
The Hong Kong Protests have become one of the most iconic events of our time. Initially sparked by a proposed bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, the protests quickly grew in size and intensity as citizens of Hong Kong took to the streets to demonstrate their opposition to the bill and to Chinese control of Hong Kong.
Within days, thousands of protestors had swarmed one of the world’s busiest airports, the Hong Kong International, chanting, “an eye for an eye.” While the bill has since been withdrawn, the protests continue to this day, with protestors seeking greater autonomy for Hong Kong, as well as democratic reforms.
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