This photographic essay documents two of a series of global Stand with Hong Kong rallies held in Washington DC in August and November 2019 as Chinese and Special Administrative Region (SAR) authorities’ violent repression of the anti-extradition to China and anti-police brutality movement – also known by some as the Water Revolution – significantly broadened, intensified, and led to a state of undeclared de facto martial law in the territory. It visually probes the physical and virtual linkages between Hongkongers and the state repression and terrorism they faced while daily attempting to defend their home and way of life as articulated through the convergence of memes, political communications and protest materials and props. Concomitantly, the essay visually tells the story of global rallies that sought to raise awareness and mobilize support for the Hong Kong protesters, including calling for the U.S. to enact the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, and a global vigil for martyred souls lost during Hong Kong’s Water Revolution thereby illustrating the saying and sentiment that, “Hong Kong will never walk alone.”
Hong Kong is under
[state] terrorist attack
[state] terrorist attack
Placard held by participant at a “Global Emergency Rally for Hong Kong” event in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, on November 2nd, refers to Hongkongers’ claims of Chinese and Special Administrative Region (SAR) government state terrorism against the city’s anti-extradition to China and anti-police brutality movement known by some as the Water Revolution. The global mobilization follows months of unprecedented HKSAR police violence against activists, first responders and the media and innovation of emergency powers. A vigil for the hundreds of suspicious Hongkonger protester deaths, most dubiously classified as suicides by the Hong Kong police following only perfunctory examinations, was also held.
"Five Demands, Not One Less"
Placard held by young attendee at a “Global Emergency Rally for Hong Kong” event in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, on November 2nd, lists Hongkongers’ “Five Demands” to the Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Chinese authorities. Hongkongers’ Five Demands emerged following months-long Chinese and SAR government attempts to impose mainland legal, political and social norms on Hongkongers by duplicitously amending Hong Kong’s extradition laws to allow the transfer of individuals (especially dissidents) from the city to the mainland for violations of Chinese law committed anywhere in the world, at any time, by any person. They also arose out of public outrage over months of unprecedented violent repression of peaceful anti-extradition protests by a perceived unaccountable Hong Kong Police Force, regime characterization and prosecution of protesters as rioters, and a dismissive and hostile SAR government owing to Hong Kong’s undemocratic political system.
An "Eye for Hong Kong"
Placard held by participant at the August 18, “DC ‘Stand with HK, Power to the People’s Rally,” in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, refers to anti-extradition to China Hongkonger demonstrators’ claims that the Hong Kong Police Force purposefully targeted activists, journalists, first responders and observers’ eyes when firing baton rounds, rubber bullets, pepper balls and tear gas canisters and other anti-riot munitions. Galvanizing images of one-eyed supporters, social media posts and memes quickly emerged globally, and in the city, following the Special Administrative Region police’s alleged shooting of a volunteer medic in the eye with a beanbag a few days earlier and soon became an icon of Hong Kong Police brutality. The rally, one of 30 held across the globe, called for passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.
We Are All 'One-eyed':
Stand with Hong Kong
Stand with Hong Kong
Using “I Stand With Hong Kong” sticker as an eye patch, a participant at the August 18, “DC ‘Stand with HK, Power to the People’s Rally,” in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, embodies Hongkonger demonstrators’ claims that Hong Kong police were purposefully targeting activists, journalists, first responders and observers’ eyes when deploying baton rounds, rubber bullets, pepper balls, tear gas canisters and other anti-riot munitions to repress anti-extradition protests. Expressing support for the Hong Kong protests using an eye patch went viral following a mid-August video of the aftermath of Special Administrative Region police alleged targeted shooting of a volunteer medic in the eye with a beanbag round during protests.
Memes Stand with Hong Kong
Placards at an August 18, “DC ‘Stand with HK, Power to the People’s Rally,” in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, depict Internet memes, photographs and other political communications explicating Hong Kong’s unprecedented 2019 anti-extradition to China and anti-police brutality demonstrations and movement known by some as the Water Revolution. The visuals also speak to claims that the city’s separate legal and political systems, rule of law and high degree of autonomy – promised to Hongkongers under China’s “One Country, Two Systems” policy – have eroded. The rally, one of 30 across the globe, called for Congress’ passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The Act would require the U.S. president to annually certify to Congress that the city’s autonomy and liberal freedoms remained sufficiently intact to warrant special trade treatment. It would also ensure pro-democracy activists arrested for non-violent protests would not be denied visas to the United States.
"Stand with Us" - FeedomHK
Participant at an August 18, “DC ‘Stand with HK, Power to the People’s Rally,” in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, using hashtags and QR codes embodies the convergence of off- and online activism to mobilize global support for Hong Kong’s anti-extradition and anti-police brutality movement known by some as the Water Revolution. The rally was one of 30 across the globe.
"Vote Yes on 'Hong Kong Human Rights
& Democracy Act'"
& Democracy Act'"
Participant at an August 18, “DC ‘Stand with HK, Power to the People’s Rally,” in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, one of 30 rallies across the world to raise awareness and show support for the Hong Kong protesters, holds a “post card” calling for Congress to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. In “Standing with Hong Kong,” the Act would require the U.S. president to annually certify to Congress that the city’s autonomy and liberal freedoms remained sufficiently intact to warrant special trade treatment. It would also ensure pro-democracy activists arrested by Chinese or Special Administrative Region authorities for non-violent protests would not be denied visas to the United States. Photographically, the card depicts Hongkongers’ visuals claims of excessive force and brutality by the Hong Kong Police in suppressing the months long demonstrations.
Chinese Dissident Chen Guangcheng
"Stands with Hong Kong"
"Stands with Hong Kong"
Wearing a “I Stand with Hong Kong” sticker, Chinese civil rights activist Chen Guangcheng prepares to speak at the “DC ‘Stand with HK, Power to the People’s Rally,” in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, on August 18th. One of 30 rallies across the world to raise awareness and show support for the Hong Kong protesters, it also sought to raise awareness of how the Chinese and Special Administrative Region regimes were violently suppressing the movement known by some as the Water Revolution.
"Save Hong Kong, Liberate Hong Kong"
Attendees at the “Global Emergency Rally for Hong Kong” event in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, on November 2nd, hold up placards depicting Internet memes depicting Hongkongers’ plight and struggle following months of violent repression of anti-extradition to China and anti-police brutality protests by Chinese and Special Administrative Region authorities. Invoking the iconic Winnie the Pooh meme as a sign for Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping Chinese Communist Party’s voracious appetite to “devour” Hong Kong and all its freedoms, the city and other borderline territories such as Macau, Taiwan, Tibet, the South China Seas, and Xinjiang are all signified as “honey pots” for an insatiable “Red” Pooh Bear to consume. Tapping Hongkonger freedom and liberty discourses surrounding the Water Revolution, an adaptation of the Delacroix painting of the France’s July Revolution, “Liberty Leading the People,” has been reimagined as frontline protesters leading Hong Kong’s revolution.
"Liberate Hong Kong, the Revolution of Our Times"
Invoking the DIY aesthetic and political orientation of many front line activists of Hong Kong’s Water Revolution, a supporter at the “Global Emergency Rally for Hong Kong” event in Lafayette Square, Washington DC, on November 2nd, displays one of the most identifiable, globally iconic – and for some, controversial – slogans of the movement. The call to arms, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times,” has its basis in the 2016 by-election campaign of Hong Kong Indigenous spokesman Edward Leung. It regained popularity with the emergence of the anti-extradition to China and anti-police brutality protests in 2019 and represents the agency of Hongkongers to become the change they desire. Detractors, typically Chinese and Special Administrative Region authorities or members of the pro-China establishment, claim the slogan refers to a call for Hong Kong independence and realization of a literal, not figurative, revolution.
