The student-led occupation of Hong Kong’s streets has passed the fifty day mark.
In those fifty days, the pro-democracy protesters have seen an outpouring of support from Hong Kong citizens, rediscovered the city’s caring side, fostered a sense of camaraderie, created works of public art, and gained new confidence in themselves.
The students and citizens have also been heckled by anti-Occupy supporters, seen the darker side of Hong Kong’s police force, and have thus far failed to make any headway in their demands for full democracy from their government and the Chinese communist regime.
Here’s a quick survey of the Umbrella Movement in fifty photos from the most recent events.
Day 50
Nov. 16
Selfie Time!
Prominent student leader Joshua Wong seizes the chance to take a selfie with an anti-Occupy supporter.
Day 49
Nov. 15
We’re (Not) Going to Beijing
Student leaders Alex Chow, Eason Chung, and Nathan Law from the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) were unsuccessful in their attempt to travel to Beijing to seek an audience with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Day 48
Nov. 14
Mask Up!
“Tear gas on our wedding? Not a problem.”
Day 47
Nov. 13
Library
The makeshift library in Mong Kok gets attracts plenty of readers.
Day 46
Nov. 12
Busted!
One of three men arrested for throwing animal organs at media mogul Jimmy Lai.
Lai is a strong advocate of democracy in Hong Kong, and his publication, Apple Daily, is one of the few papers that out-rightly support the students.
Day 45
Nov. 11
Who’s Watching Who Now?
Day 44
Nov. 10
Never-ending Work
Protesters toil away ceaselessly at the barricades, strengthening them ahead of the inevitable confrontation between the Hong Kong police, who will most likely be asked to clear them out.
Day 43
Nov. 9
Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Joshua Wong joins a “Yellow Ribbon March” to the China liaison office let the pro-democracy demonstrators’ calls for universal suffrage be heard. Protesters tie yellow ribbons at the barricades under the watchful eyes of the police.
Day 42
Nov. 8
The “Orphaned” Occupy Site Hangs On
A “Lion Rock” banner with the words “I Want True Universal Suffrage” hangs at the Causeway Bay encampment, the smallest of the three occupy sites.
Day 41
Nov. 7
Street Fighter Support?
Chinese Communist Party leaders done up in Xi Jinping-with-umbrella/Street Fighter’s Gouki-style.
Day 40
Nov. 6
Right at Home
Forty days in, the protesters look very much at home in Admiralty.
Day 39
Nov. 5
Standoff
Students with yellow hardhats and plastic bottles, police with riot gear and shields. Right on cue, the red man shows up on the traffic light in the distance.
Day 38
Nov. 4
Universal Suffrage
That’s what those yellow ribbons stand for. Anti-Occupiers don blue ribbons.
Day 37
Nov. 3
Circus Time
Xi Jinping cardboard cut-outs can be found all over protest sites and especially near barricades because protesters hope that the police won’t dare forcibly remove barricades with the image of the incumbent Chinese leader on it.
Day 36
Nov. 2
Marvel vs. D.C.
South Park-inspired D.C. and Marvel paper super heroes carry mini yellow umbrellas and occupy their corner of Admiralty.
Day 35
Nov. 1
Kim Jong-un
A “Kim Jong-un” impersonator wows the crowd at Admiralty.
Day 34
Oct. 31
Halloween
Some Halloween fun. Given that democracy is on the line, no wonder the “in” thing is the Guy Fawkes mask from “V for Vendetta.”
Day 33
Oct. 30
The Sleepover Continues
It must be nice to camp out with your friends on a road in the middle of Hong Kong’s central business district.
Day 32
Oct. 29
Oh Deary Me
Somewhere in the Chief Executive’s residence at that, CY Leung is probably doing something similar, as the Hong Kong police failed to clear the protesters after more than a month into Occupy Central.
Day 31
Oct. 28
One Month Later
Protesters hold up their umbrellas to mark one month of Occupy Central.
Day 30
Oct. 27
“Lads, Back in My Days...”
The Occupy movement brings the young and the old together.
Day 29
Oct. 26
“Support Our Police”
An anti-Occupy petition booth at Tsuen Wan District.
The campaigners claim that they have received more than 1.8 million signatures against the protest. Pro-democracy supporters say that the anti-Occupy campaign has lax standards and cannot be counted on.
Day 28
Oct. 25
Just Gonna Plant Ourselves on the Road...
From the asphalt, a plant rises, symbol of the students’ determination and spirit.
Day 27
Oct. 24
Tank-brella?
A creative art installation made out of a tent, recycled bottles, and topped off with an umbrella.
Day 26
Oct. 23
Graduation Photo, Umbrella Movement-Style
This Hong Kong University student poses in front of the “Lennon Wall” for a memorable graduation picture.
Day 25
Oct. 22
“Ouch!”
A pro-democracy protester lies on the ground after being slightly injured during clashes with police, after they tried to arrest an unseen protester, in the Mongkok district of Hong Kong.
Day 24
Oct. 21
“So We Agreed to Disagree...”
Student representatives from the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) and Scholarism convener Joshua Wong (extreme left) at the press conference after a student-government dialogue.
During the talk, the Hong Kong government representatives said that they won’t ask the Chinese regime for more democratic reform in the 2017 Chief Executive elections, while the students gave impassioned speeches about democracy and the future of Hong Kong.
Day 23
Oct. 20
Street Doodle
Chalking up the Umbrella Movement.
Day 22
Oct. 19
The Struggle for Democracy is Not a Sprint...
...It’s a marathon!
Day 21
Oct. 18
Watch Where You’re Swinging That Night Stick
Police attempt to beat back protesters at Argyle Street, Mong Kok.
Day 20
Oct. 17
Persistence Pays Off
Pro-democracy protesters successfully retake Argyle Street after being cleared by police multiple times.
Day 19
Oct. 16
“Avengers Assemble!”
Hong Kong’s “Captain America” spotted in Mong Kok. “Captain America” would subsequently be arrested, see his shield confiscated, and later released on bail.
Day 18
Oct. 15
No Police Violence Please, We Are Hongkongers
Protesters hold upside-down signs that read “Black Police” to show their dissatisfaction towards the police action on Oct. 14.
Day 17
Oct. 14
Cheap Umbrellas for Sale... Not
In what turned out to be a night of brutality, police start to beat pro-democracy protesters with batons and their hands after they successfully shutdown Lung Wo Road, one of the major roadways in Hong Kong.
Day 16
Oct. 13
Occupy vs Anti-Occupy — GIVE ME THAT BARRICADE
A very determined bunch of anti-Occupy supporters forcibly remove metal barricades set up by Occupy protesters.
Day 15
Oct. 12
Democracy Please, Not Rain
This is so not a rain dance.
Day 14
Oct. 11
“Get Me to the Streets on Time...”
Nothing like a good pro-democracy protest for an excellent wedding photo location.
Day 13
Oct. 10
Gotta Hit Those Books
Students furiously studying away is a common sight at the occupation areas.
Day 12
Oct. 9
Pint-sized Umbrella Protester Spotted
Cute kid with an umbrella. Not sure if he knows what “real universal suffrage” means, though.
Day 11
Oct. 8
“Don’t Cry For Me Hong Kong...”
“Dad, Mum, so there’s this massive sleepover at Admiralty, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay until, like, we get real democracy in Hong Kong, and all my friends will be there...”
Day 10
Oct. 7
Umbrella Man
Created by Hong Kong sculptor “Milk,” “Umbrella Man” stands tall in Admiralty with the movement’s iconic yellow umbrella.
Day 9
Oct. 6
“I Need a Break” — Protesters
Hong Kong youngsters catch up on their beauty sleep... on the road.
Day 8
Oct. 5
A Little More (Friendly) Conversation, a Little Less (Police) Action, Please
Police and student protesters engage in friendly conversation at the barricades. If only it was this peaceful at the French Revolution...
Day 7
Oct. 4
“Do You Hear the People Sing, Mr CY Leung?”
Tens of thousands of people gather on Connaught Road Central, East of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Forces Building, demanding that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying resign from his position in Hong Kong.
Day 6
Oct. 3
Occupy vs Anti-Occupy — CCP “Protesters-For-Hire”
In Kowloon, pro-democracy protesters (R) clash with an assailant who the protesters say was hired by the Chinese Communist Party to cause trouble.
Day 5
Oct. 2
HK’s Lennon Wall — Early Days
Protesters stick post-it notes expressing their democratic aspirations to the Hong Kong Central Government Offices wall.
Day 4
Oct. 1
Admiralty Protest Site
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters gather at the Government Complex, against a backdrop of cranes and skyscrapers.
Day 3
Sept. 30
A Not-So-Average Work Commute
A man walks to work along the empty streets of Central which usually would be chocked with peak hour traffic.
Day 2
Sept. 29
“I Need a Break” — Police
Policemen get a little shut-eye following pro-democracy protests in Admiralty.
Day 1
Sept. 28
The Day Hong Kong Cried
The Umbrella Movement got off to a teary start as protesters as Hong Kong police used tear gas on the protesters near the Hong Kong government headquarters in Admiralty.
In total, police fired 87 canisters of tear gas at the tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators.
