Hong Kong's 2019 Protest Movement Remembered

Police fired teargas on peaceful protesters three years ago

Scenes of police beating protesters and tear gas shot in the air were played out this afternoon on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery to mark the third anniversary of June 12, 2019. 

The chaotic scenes were re-enacted in Vancouver

That day protesters descended on the Legislative Council to try to defeat the second reading of the extradition bill, and succeeded, but not without violent clashes with the police.

Hong Kong activists here re-enacted the scenes again to a crowd of several hundred people to not only remember what happened, but also educate others who were not aware of what happened three years ago and how this led to the police using increasingly aggressive and harsh treatments of protesters in the coming months.

At one point the participants held up white pieces of paper, reminiscent of the time when protesters were arrested for doing this, unable to freely express themselves.

One man named Tab, who is also an organiser with Vancouver Activists of Hong Kong, said June 12, 2019 was a significant moment in the city.

Hong Kong activists held signs in Washington DC

"To me it's the beginning of the end of Hong Kong, in terms of keeping [China's] 'one country, two systems promise. 

"And it went downhill from there... Hong Kong has lost its freedom -- freedom of the press, judicial independence, all gone."

There was also another massive gathering in London, some 4,000 people came out to mark the third anniversary, where speakers read out the number of people arrested (over 10,700), over 2,000 prosecuted, over 1,100 in jail, 175 people arrested for national security law, eight imprisoned. They also point out there are many others who have disappeared or committed suicide with regards to the movement.

And in Taiwan around 1,000 people took part in a march, while about 400 people gathered in Washington DC. They held placards that read: "China can arrest you for... writing children's books... running a primary election... wearing a mask," and so on.

Some 4,000 people attended a rally in London

With the Hong Kong diaspora around the world, the residents' protest movement three years ago is not forgotten.