Hong Kong, an administrative region of the People's Republic of China, is under duress. It has had a reputation for its metropolitan society and the tourists from around the globe wish to take their kids for a visit to Disneyland. But, as we all know, times change. Currently, the world sees Hong Kong with eyes of pity and consolation for now it has turned into a warzone of sorts, and the kids living inside the region are not experiencing the fun and laughter that they so deserve. Rather, all they see are the people fighting for their demands, clashes between the police and the people, and the entirety of Hong Kong in deep suffering.
Naming the sit-in at the government headquarters on 15 March 2019, as a "riot" infuriated the protestors who were subjected to tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds. This aggression by state authorities a "sit-in" is uncanny and unethical. The real trouble began during a demonstration attended by hundreds of thousands on 9 June 2019, followed by a gathering outside the Legislative Council Complex to stall the bill's second reading on 12th June, which thereafter escalated into violence that caught the world's attention. Five protestors were taken into custody by authorities and this sparked off an immense agitation among the people of Hong Kong, who currently stand completely separated from state authorities. The extradition bill, which was the focal point of the protests, has been withdrawn but it is one of the four demands the people sought to achieve. Although, the main focus of the protest is primarily police brutality. The world witnessed the death of George Floyd who was a victim of police brutality. Following those events, the world also witnessed a mass movement coined as "Black Lives Matter" to bring light onto the idea of racial discrimination and also highlights police brutality. Hong Kong-ers are now fighting for their safety and their voice, which they shall not give up at any cost just because a policeman is holding a gun in his hands and shooting a person on sight. Violent protesters have stabbed honest policemen in public sights to take revenge on the authorities but the state still remains silent, even after witnessing the mess Hong Kong is in. Many want to do the right thing but it only takes a few among them who wake up and feel the need to inflict pain and that is when it all goes wrong. Mahatma Gandhi moved people into action, so did Nelson Mandela, by not acting in a revengeful manner rather, they used the silence of their aggression and turned it to gold. India is now one of the best democratic republics in the world, it was not handed to us out on a silver platter but we made use of our unity and the honest feeling of taking back what was ours.
The anger among Hong Kongers is justified but violent protests are not the way anyone should follow to make the deaf and despotic start listening. The current circumstances in Hong Kong will resonate among the ears of every human for the people's bravery, dedication, and unity but it will all remain among the ashes of HATE and Violence if the people choose it over the smiles of little ones.
Sheersha Gupta
Sheersha Gupta is a writer for Verity Today.
