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Protesters try to memorialize Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution before it disappears Protesters try to memorialize Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution before it disappears
(about 1 hour later)
HONG KONG — As the jam-packed crowds fade — along with the threat of tear gas and electric night vigils — some in Hong Kong are trying to save pieces of their Umbrella Revolution before it disappears. HONG KONG — As the jam-packed crowds fade — along with the threat of tear gas and electric nighttime vigils — some in Hong Kong are trying to save pieces of their Umbrella Revolution before it disappears.
For more than a week, the pro-democracy protests have paralyzed parts of the city and galvanized residents hoping to wrest true voting rights from their Communist rulers in Beijing. And a group of diehard demonstrators is likely to continue for days even if the massive crowds don’t. For more than a week, the pro-democracy protests have paralyzed parts of the city and galvanized residents hoping to wrest true voting rights from their Communist rulers in Beijing. And a group of die-hard demonstrators is likely to continue for days even if the massive crowds don’t.
But by Monday, some were already working to salvage pieces of the movement — both symbolic and literal — before the protest dies out altogether. But some are already working to salvage pieces of the movement — both symbolic and literal — before the protest dies out altogether.
College student Jason Wu, 20, spent the afternoon methodically snapping pictures at the main demonstration site by the government’s headquarters.College student Jason Wu, 20, spent the afternoon methodically snapping pictures at the main demonstration site by the government’s headquarters.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in Hong Kong before,” he said. “We must remember it.”“Nothing like this has ever happened in Hong Kong before,” he said. “We must remember it.”
All week long Wu had reluctantly promised his parents not to attend the night-time protests for fear of violent police crackdowns. So when he read online that Hong Kong historians and academics were urging the public to save mementoes for posterity, he decided to act. All week long Wu had reluctantly promised his parents that he would not attend the nighttime protests for fear of violent police crackdowns. So when he read online that Hong Kong historians and academics were urging the public to save mementoes for posterity, he decided to act.
The photos — of banners, quirky protest art, impassioned screeds taped onto government offices — were his way of contributing to the cause in its last days, he said. The photos — of banners, quirky protest art, impassioned screeds taped onto government office buildings — were his way of contributing to the cause in its last days, he said.
“I want the next generation to know everything that was said here, what people stood up and fought for,” he said.“I want the next generation to know everything that was said here, what people stood up and fought for,” he said.
By Monday night, crowds had thinned noticeably at several protest sites, though protest organizers urged people to stay as they continued negotiations for a meeting with authorities where they could discuss demands for democratic reform. By Monday night, crowds had thinned noticeably at several protest sites, although organizers urged people to stay as they continued to negotiate for a meeting with authorities to discuss their demands for democratic reform.
Close to midnight, the Hong Kong Federation of Students announced those talks would likely happen later in the week. It’s unclear what will emerge from the process, but the continued dialogue suggests that authorities won’t sweep demonstrators off the streets, as feared throughout most of the week of protest. Near midnight, the Hong Kong Federation of Students announced those talks are likely to happen later this week. The continued dialogue suggests that authorities won’t sweep demonstrators off the streets, as has been feared.
By Monday, in any case, some from the movement were recording songs composed during the protest. Various documentary makers put out requests for archival footage. Some members of the movement recorded songs composed during the protest. Documentary filmmakers put out requests for archival footage.
A flier circulating widely advertised a phone number protesters could call to record their thoughts, writings and most vivid memories from the past few days. A flier circulating widely advertised a phone number protesters could call to record their thoughts, writings and most vivid memories from the demonstrations.
And someone — fearing the effects of rain, wind and time — had wrapped large sheets of plastic wrap around parts of a wall of hand written Post-it notes from the past week. And someone — fearing the effects of rain, wind and time — had wrapped large sheets of plastic wrap around parts of a wall of hand written Post-it notes.
Art student Queenie Chan, 25, spent two hours sketching a scene of the waning protest.Art student Queenie Chan, 25, spent two hours sketching a scene of the waning protest.
As she worked combining ink with watercolors, Chan recalled how she first got wind of the protests while on vacation abroad and rushed back. As she worked combining ink with watercolors, Chan recalled how she heard about the protests while abroad on vacation and rushed back.
“I wanted so desperately to help when I arrived, but drawing’s really all I’m good at,” she said. So she began wandering around the protests sites with her sketch pad. “I wanted so desperately to help when I arrived, but drawing’s really all I’m good at,” she said. So she began wandering the protests sites with her sketch pad.
She said she’s still not exactly sure whom she’s drawing the pictures for and to what end. Chan said she’s still not sure who the drawings are for or what they might accomplish.
“This is just my way of remembering — the feeling of it, what it was and meant to me at the time.”“This is just my way of remembering — the feeling of it, what it was and meant to me at the time.”
As they memorialized the protest, many were also beginning the process of trying to understand what exactly happened, what it meant and what effect it would have on the future of their city. Many protesters were also beginning the process of trying to understand exactly what happened, what it meant and what effect it might have on the future of the city.
“Some may say nothing has changed, if the chief executive didn’t step down, if Hong Kong’s voting procedures stay the same,” said Hui Kwat Kong, 20, who spent the past week camped out with other protesters. “Some may say nothing has changed, if the chief executive didn’t step down, if Hong Kong’s voting procedures stay the same,” said Hui Kwat Kong, 20, who had camped out with other protesters.
But Hui said he had recently started studying the Industrial Revolution in a sociology class, and he pointed out, “Such revolutions don’t occur overnight. Something happens and the change begins piece by piece.” But Hui said he had recently started studying the Industrial Revolution in a sociology class. “Such revolutions don’t occur overnight,” he said. “Something happens and the change begins piece by piece.”
The biggest effect of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution, he argued, wouldn’t be found in policy, polls or the politicians elected in coming years. The biggest effect of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution, he said, won’t be found in policy, polls or the politicians elected in coming years.
“All of us who came down here and joined the protest — we have changed,” he said. “All of us who came down here and joined the protest — we have changed,” Hui said. And that, he said, will resonate in Hong Kong for decades to come.
The results of that, he argued, will resonate in Hong Kong for years and decades to come. Ishaan Tharoor contributed to this report.
Ishaan Tharoor in Hong Kong contributed to this report.