This Friday students march in solidarity with Hong Kong
Words by Alexi Barnstone
This Friday, on the 30th of August, an anti-ELAB protest will be held in solidarity with Hong-Kong. The event will be held at 12 PM on the lawns outside the Administration Building (F23) on Eastern Ave. Protesters are encouraged to bring umbrellas, wear face masks and all black to hide their identity. Information about the protest was provided to Pulp through an anonymous source. They said this in their statement:
“We all know what has happened in UQ [University of Queensland]. Parents are being contacted by authorities in China if their children participate in protests. People are assaulted and doxxed. But we will not let that deter us. We are all united for one cause, to support HK and our right to freely express ourselves on campus.”
For information on what happened at the University of Queensland click here.
It has been almost three months since millions started marching in Hong Kong against an extradition bill that would allow people to be taken to mainland China. The protests have turned progressively more brutal as tensions rise. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has yet to ameliorate the situation, refusing to acquiesce to the demands of her citizens. As of 18 August 1800 rounds of tear gas have been fired at protesters, press, and civilians—including the elderly and children. On 10 August, police blinded a medic when they shot a beanbag round into her eye, shot tear gas into a metro station, and pushed retreating protesters down escalators. On 19 August, a man stabbed three protesters who had been maintaining a Lennon Wall in Tseung Kwan O.
For a more in depth look at the current scenario in Hong Kong, click here.
The movement’s demands have broadened to address many growing concerns around the sovereignty of Hong-Kong. These demands are as follows:
Total withdrawal of the extradition bill
Retraction of the "riot" characterisation (12th June)
Release and exoneration of arrested protesters
Establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into police brutality
Implementation of universal suffrage for Hong Kong
The protest this Friday will be policed by Newtown Police. The organisers of Friday’s protest fear a counter protest by radical Chinese Communist Party loyals. A facebook page called Defense of Sydney has shared the event and called for counter protests.
The Facebook page Defense of Sydney calling for counter protests
The organisers allege that an SRC member from the Panda faction was responsible for taking down the Lennon Wall on campus.
The protest this Friday will follow this structure:
Acknowledgement of country
About the ELAB & protests: What’s happened so far and why are we fighting?
Reiterate demands of HK anti-ELAB protesters
Speech from John August (immediate ex deputy president of the Pirate Party)
Anti-ELAB in Australian universities and at USYD
Our own demands (SRC involvement)
Reading out anonymous statements from HKers/Mainlanders
Sing-along to “Do you hear the people sing”
March to the Front Lawns
The organisers of the event stress that the event is not an anti-China protest. They discourage any signs or sentiments against the Chinese people. Criticism of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) however is encouraged.