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I was later out than expected as I couldnu2019t find my gas mask. Arrived to find a Raptor subset on Salisbury Rd.
u201cBirds (who) live in cages think flying is a crimeu201d and other slogans seen at TST.
Despite trying to keep the earlier massive protest march off the road, creating dangerously crowded conditions (which the police the attacked anyway), cops blocked the road for their own use, forcing traffic to u-turn by the art museum.
With a govt. helicopter hovering overhead, the number of art lovers outside the museum increased. A small number of protestors gathering to exchange banter.
Even though thereu2019s only a small number of masked protesters, soft kids with no gear, police making a big show of force here.
I mean, itu2019s not the first time The Peninsula hotel has been used as the centre of operations by a hostile occupation force.
Of course the blue flags were raised to warn that this was an illegal assembly. In a public garden outside a museum, designed specifically for the purpose of being a space for the public to gather.
A sudden and unnecessary charge into the crowd of mostly press to scare off a handful of youngsters in black. No arrests made, just cops flexing and being massive wankers.
Finally the cops decide to stop being annoying and just leave. The crowd thanked them for their service as they departed.
About to get lively in Mongkok. Nathan Rd blocked at Dundas St, the engine cutoff switches on the buses engaged. Sizeable number of young protestors present.
Traffic was blocked both lanes. After protestors had hit the engine switches (rear of the bus, above the lights) they sprayed the windshield and wing mirror to ensure the buses are hard to move later.
The barrier was hastily built as there were police vans visible just a few hundred metres north. Immediately after taking this I saw about 20 riot police had approached from the south and protestors were on high alert.
Threading a livestream. The police south of the Dundas St barricade moved forward to Hamilton St. Turned out to be a holding group and only advanced 10 mins later when cops arrived in force from the north. In the meantime, we had a chat. https://twitter.com/hongkonghermit/status/1201126028883578882?s=21">https://twitter.com/hongkongh... https://twitter.com/hongkonghermit/status/1201126028883578882">https://twitter.com/hongkongh...
And by chat, I mean one shone a light in my face, one told me to fuck off, and another beckoned me to come and fight. So thereu2019s your serving with honour, duty, and loyalty. (Oxford comma, modelu2019s own.)
They had the black flag out, but didnu2019t display it. Orange flag only went up as they charged. I asked if they were planning to gas the 3 year old kid they let walk into the u201cRiOt zOnEu201d but all I got was an offer to fight them, a thumbs down, and a u201ctalk to the commanderu201d.
Iu2019ll say again, what level of cognitive dissonance do you need to be on where you can simultaneously claim these are riots, while actual riot police happily let a 3 year old in a dinosaur backpack walk into the area holding mumu2019s hand. Because come on, be consistent at least.
A mills barrier barricade. Wow, been a long time since I saw one of these.
Also seen in Mongkok, two volunteer medics taking a quick break and giggling in a claw machine arcade. (The machineu2019s didnu2019t pay out, but you knew that already.)
Also seen in Mongkok, two volunteer medics taking a quick break and giggling in a claw machine arcade. (The machineu2019s didnu2019t pay out, but you knew that already.)
Rogue apostrophe, modelu2019s own.
Police were still on Nathan Rd at Soy St. There was some banter as they left.
That was an hour ago, only just uploaded. Immediately after those cops left, their replacements turned up and were in a much more aggressive mood, immediately clearing Soy Street. One cop using his shield horizontally to push 3 journalists at once.
Part 2 of the Soy St clearance, which ends with a cop deciding I need my (lucky) 7th ID check. He put his hands on my phone and told me to stop filming. So I did.
But, he didnu2019t say anything about not starting a livestream, which Iu2019m threading here. I always stream my ID checks for my own safety and for public interest. I didnu2019t do my usual u201cinterview the copsu201d thing this time as Iu2019m not quite 100% after my illness. https://twitter.com/hongkonghermit/status/1201142182670766080?s=21">https://twitter.com/hongkongh... https://twitter.com/hongkonghermit/status/1201142182670766080">https://twitter.com/hongkongh...
Itu2019s a long livestream, ebbs and flows. Starts with ID check, then becomes a series of mass ID checks all along Sai Yeung Choi St. Groups of 15+ protestors and residents at a time blocked off and bags searched and details taken.
Later, after checking Argyle St to the north, I returned to check on the cops who were annoyed a hair salon worker above the street had given them the finger. Police then arrived to kettle several hundred people in the street not allowing anyone to leave.
Press, medics, protestors, residents, everyone was blocked in. A little old uncle with his can of beer told to turn back and get in the kettle. There was no warning and no sense to it, beyond u201ccops must be PISSED we cheered the hairdresseru201d.
One cops asked for my ID card, told him itu2019d already been done. u201cWell, just stay right there.u201d I called after him to ask why no-one could leave and he just shushed me, twice, and seemed annoyed I had even asked. Which is no way to discourage me, tbh.
I asked another woman cop why nobody was allowed to leave. She said u201cwe told you to leave, but you didnu2019tu201d. I pointed out all the roads nearby were full of cops. Also pointed out that if you want people to leave, making them stay against their will isnu2019t a good way to achieve it.
Media was let out at that point. A friendly (to me) media liaison cop said u201cyou are always here, and I always have to send someone to see what you are doingu201d. Also said he thinks I am there to make trouble for the police. And I mean... thereu2019s banter.
He then said he was happy for press to film from outside the cordon, and while acknowledging full well Iu2019m not press he decided to let me through. So out I went, while 200 people then got slowly ID checked and bag searched in a show of force.
Anyway the kettling was bullshit as I had just wandered in via an open road, no warning was given, and it swept up a bunch of people who were just... there. No arrests, just a lot of hassle, cops just now left.
Police vehicles leaving Nathan Road via Argyle St. The final van is hit by a projectile, to a rousing cheer from the people. 5 mins previously another van was hit the same way, got the same cheer. Neither stopped.
Of course a late night skeleton crew of protestors immediately closed the Nathan Rd/Argyle St junction. Same as we always do. Bunch of cop vans just two junctions south, still with lights on.
Several police vans drove up at speed, residents yelling to protestors to leave. One shot was fired after those running away, couldnu2019t see if tear gas or rubber baton rounds. An emotional cop then yelled at anyone crossing Argyle where a small road fire had been built.
A fire engine then arrived to put out the teeny tiny blaze, and residents passive aggressively clapped and cheered them just to remind cops we hate them but love firefighters. Petty AF and I adored it.
I think thatu2019s it for the night, certainly is for me as itu2019s my first protest out since I had the chickenpox.
End of thread.
End of thread.
