Thousands of people in Hong Kong recaptured a protest site Friday night that was cleared by police just a few hours before, in a show of force by the almost three-week-old movement demanding greater democratic rights.
Hundreds of police officers attempted to keep the boiling crowds in the Mong Kok area at bay, many times with the use of batons and pepper spray, but to no avail. Around midnight, a canopy of umbrellasâan icon for the protest movementâtriumphantly started moving down the thoroughfare of Nathan Road, trailing scores of retreating police officers.
âThis sends the message that we canât be suppressed or bullied, we will fight back,â said 17-year-old high school student Joel Christian Banerjee Dilan on the front line. âWeâre not scared anymore.â
