May 24th, 2020

Hong Kong Protests against the CCP's plan to bypass the #HK legislature and make it illegal to say anything negative about the Chinese government, even online.

Ongoing coverage of today's protests will be tweeted here.

THREAD

First arrest: Activist Tam Tak-chi was arrested after #HKpolice accused him of causing a group gathering during his anti-epidemic talk.

Before the arrest, people raised their masks to signify they are not violating social distancing rules because it is a "public health lecture."

Hong Kongers chant, "Hong Kong independence, the only way out!"

Location: Great George Street, Causeway Bay, in the central northern part of Hong Kong island.

"Five demands, not one less!"

#FiveDemandsNotOneLess #HongKongProtests #HKProtests #StandWithHongKong

Hong Kong police begin to use the social distancing laws in a futile attempt to disperse the protesters.

First use of tear gas by #HKpolice at approximately 1:25 pm on Hennessy Road.

This is what prompted the tear gas:

Hong Kong police are in retreat as protesters advance and throw various objects at them.

To see the #HKpolice in retreat is a rare and inspiring sight to see on the streets of Hong Kong!

Hong Kong police continue to retreat from the advancing crowd of hundreds of protesters.

They are now under the Percival skywalk over Hennessy Road.

This is the moment #HKpolice use their grenade launchers to fire several tear gas canisters into the crowd of protesters.

The tear gas appears to be working as protesters begin to disperse.

The Hong Kong police appear to have completely cleared Hennessy Road of protesters. Many protesters are now gathering in the side-streets.

Even though most of the protesters appear to be dispersing, the Hong Kong police have dispatched an armored vehicle and a water cannon truck.

Protesters taunt the HK police as they return to their police vans. Some protesters can be heard yelling "Communist dogs!"

There appears to be a standstill now with protesters sarcastically clapping and showing friendly hand gestures to the police as the police raise flags warning protesters to disperse.

The protesters have regrouped and can now be heard singing their protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong".

JUST NOW: The police have fired the water cannon at the intersection of Canal Road West and Hennessy Road.

The target is currently unknown.

The water cannon fired on what appears a random group of protesters and journalists standing on the side of the road...

...moments later the water cannon fires upon journalists on the other side of the road, destroying a traffic light in the process.

Close call!

Protesters don't appear to be giving up and some are getting aggressive.

These protesters are breaking store windows using a hammer designed to break car windows in an emergency.

Police have arrested several protesters (and what appears to be a shopper carrying a shopping bag) for unknown reasons.

Here they are being taken to the paddy wagon.

5:05 pm

After a long break listening to #HKprotesters singing songs and chanting slogans, #HKpolice suddenly charged away from their base on Hennessy Road and sprinted down Yee Wo Street.

The #HKpolice now have a makeshift base under the Canal Road Flyover.

An officer announces, "No matter your occupation, please fulfill your responsibility as a citizen and leave peacefully."

Hundreds of protesters can be seen on the neighboring street (Tang Lung Street).

Shortly after pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung (the one heard on the loudspeaker) asked police to not abuse their powers, a #HKpolice officer responded accusing him of having personality problems. Moments later...

... #HKpolice arrested Ted's colleague Ye Jinlong, also a pro-democracy member of the legislative council. Ted demanded that he be released immediately, stating that Ye had not attacked the police.

Just over an hour after their spontaneous sprint down Yee Wo Street, several dozen Hong Kong police return to their base under the Canal Road Flyover near the now mostly empty Hennessy Road.

The journalists seem to be focusing their attention on the #HKpolice and not on the #HKprotesters, but the protesters can still be heard chanting in large numbers.

This time they are chanting, "Families of rogue cops shall die!"

The Hong Kong police are now firing pepper balls at protesters.

The #HKprotesters are still out in the hundreds but they appear to be keeping their distance from the police, perhaps due to lessons learned in 2019.

Meanwhile, journalists can feel relatively comfortable near the front lines because the #HKpolice tend to ignore the press.

Police suddenly charge once again, this time clearing protesters out from under the Canal Road Flyover bridge.

#HKProtests #HongKongProtests #FreeHK #HongKong

The charge continues away from the bridge. #HKpolice arrest this man for unknown reasons.

Immediately after police left to chase protesters out from under the bridge, new protesters took their place and started singing Glory to Hong Kong.