Pro-China faction tears down murals promoting democracy
HONG KONG — Across Hong Kong, Beijing supporters on Saturday answered the call of a firebrand lawmaker to strip pro-democracy message boards plastered on walls and subway stations around the Asian financial capital, stoking fears of clashes and heightening divisions as anti-government protests push on into their sixteenth weekend.
The supporters Saturday removed vibrant murals of Post-its and art known as “Lennon Walls,” which have become symbolic of the protest movement. Meanwhile, pro-democracy protesters marched again and clashed with police, exchanging petrol bombs and tear gas.
“They want to tear down all the material because they want to silence us,” said a black-clad protester named John, 30, who works in real estate. “We don’t care how much they tear down. We’ll just come back tomorrow, every night and day.”
While tensions run high as four months of anti-government protests look to coincide with China’s nearing 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule, protesters remained unfazed and showed no signs of backing down. Nor does the government show signs of concession, as the protests continue to polarize society.
Lennon Walls — public mosaics expressing support for democracy movement — have come to define Hong Kong’s protest movement since it erupted in June over a controversial extradition bill. Though the bill has been shelved by the city’s embattled leader, Carrie Lam, protesters are digging in with their remaining four demands, including free elections and an independent inquiry into police violence this summer.
Behind the Lennon Wall sweep was outspoken lawmaker Junius Ho, who became a polarizing figure after a shocking subway attack on July 21 when a mob of white-shirted, rod-wielding men stormed a station and indiscriminately beat civilians, injuring at least 45 people, including journalists and a lawmaker. Mr. Ho was accused of colluding with the attackers after he was filmed in the area that evening shaking hands with men wearing white.
Protesters pre-empted the sweep by plastering pictures of Mr. Ho along footpaths of Lennon Walls so cleaners would need to rip down his photo. Passers-by took videos of themselves walking along the runway of faces that had been drawn with fangs and expletives.
Mr. Ho returned to headlines Wednesday after the powerful Hong Kong Jockey Club canceled a race in which his horse, Hong Kong Bet, was participating. The club said it scrapped the event because of “potential social unrest.”
Meanwhile in Hong Kong’s western area of Tuen Mun, thousands crowded in every inch of shade as they congregated in a playground. A small group of protesters played soccer while others handed out protest gear such as face masks and protective identity card sleeves to prevent tracking of personal information. Police estimate 4,300 attended the Tuen Mun rally.
Hong Kong’s subway closed two stations ahead of demonstrations in anticipation of clashes.
Ostensibly, the purpose of the protest was to demonstrate the residential issue of damas, or “singing aunties,” women who sing loudly into microphones in parks late at night and dance for men and donations. Protests often latch onto local issues depending on the neighborhood in which they unfold. A police ban on the event was overturned.
But as the shouts and cheers indicated, it was yet another anti-government demonstration. Protesters in the stands cheered “Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our times!”
“The Hong Kong government is still not responding to the five demands,” said Harrison, 28, an airline worker. “We want to keep fighting until the day they respond to our five demands.”
By late afternoon, the march devolved into confrontations between police and protesters near a shuttered subway station. Protesters threw bricks, built barricades and set fires. A few burned a Chinese flag — a major offense in the eyes of Beijing. Police charged the streets and fired tear gas.