Today is the one year anniversary of #831PrinceEdwardAttack, where riot officers charged into the MTR station, pepper sprayed and clobbered passengers on the train whom they accused of being protesters. #HongKong graphic artist Hksymbolendar recounts the incident with this video.

It’s a significant date as it marks yet another turning point in the protest movement, where public opinion turned further against the authorities and society was enraged at the police violence and abuse of power.

Many caught up in the incident that night were merely on their way home. It wasn’t even near the site of protest, which was on HK Island that day. And everyone takes the MTR. The overwhelming impression was that it could have been anyone.

The day marks the beginning of a public boycott against MTR even though it’s an essential public transportation tool in #HongKong. MTR was seen as complicit as they refused to release the CCTV footage of the station amid public uproar. It prompted the subsequent vandalism.

It sparked further protests as people demanded not just justice but also the truth. With MTR withholding the CCTV footage and amid strong distrust of authorities, speculation that some were killed in the violent incident grew.

Protesters gather around the station exit every month after, placing flowers, lighting candles to commemorate the incident and mourn for the injured. The peaceful action was met with growing hostility from the authorities tho, officers have fired teargas in more than one occasion

Worth noting one of the victims, who has disappeared since the incident, spoke out today. In an interview with @hkcnews_com news, he admitted he is in exile and didn't speak up before as he was charged with 8 counts of crime including illegal assembly. https://twitter.com/hkcnews_com/status/1300250665155874816?s=20

Also worth remembering that MTR eventually shut down all of its services that night, leaving many stranded on the streets. Since then Hong Kong authorities also began weaponising the public transportation, closing part of a line when a protest was due to happen.