100,000 Hong Kong citizens take to the streets

“They shot tear gas to our children. CY Leung, step down!”

Wu Wei Qing, a 78-year-old woman, encouraged the protests with her headband reading “Let’s Save Children (救救孩子)” on the road in front of the Statue Square in Central, a financial district in Hong Kong, early in the morning Tuesday (local time). She said, “I’m not interested in politics. I’m just thinking that our children should be safe.”

The Hong Kong pro-democracy protests against Beijing, which tries to limit the qualifications of the region’s chief executive, have turned worse since Sunday when police fired tear gas. Defying the government’s order to disband, the protestors continued a sit-in occupying main streets in Central, the western region of Hong Kong Island, and Mong Kok in Kowloon on the third day of their protest. They set up barricades and protested against Beijing’s restriction of democratic elections, marching, singing, and chanting slogans such as “Fully Democratic Elections!” or “CY Leung, Step Down!”

With middle and high school students, teachers, college students as well as employees taking to the streets, an estimated 100,000 protestors participated in the Monday evening protest. The attempt to disband the protestors with tear gas rather made more Hong Kong citizens join the protest.

CY Leung said in a press conference on Tuesday, “We’ll not give in to the threat of the illegal activities,” refusing to step down. As the Hong Kong authorities and protestors continue confrontation, some expect the protest will peak on Oct.1, a Chinese national holiday.

Fung Wai Wah, president of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, said, “We’re talking about what’s right and what’s wrong. It is very important for students to express their feelings, and teachers cannot avoid this.” Thirty one middle schools did not have classes on Monday and Tuesday. Expats also joined the demonstrating, chanting, “Hong Kong is our home.”