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| Protesters try to memorialize Hong Kong’s ‘Umbrella Revolution’ before it disappears | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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 die-hard 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 some are 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 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 mementos for posterity, he decided to act. | |
| 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. | 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, although organizers urged people to stay as they continued to negotiate for a meeting with authorities to discuss their 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Some members of the movement recorded songs composed during the protest. Documentary filmmakers 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 demonstrations. | 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. | 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 heard about the protests while abroad on vacation 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 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. |
| Chan said she’s still not sure who the drawings are for or what they might accomplish. | 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.” |
| 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. | 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 had 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. “Such revolutions don’t occur overnight,” he said. “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 said, won’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,” Hui said. And that, he said, will resonate in Hong Kong for decades to come. | “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. |
| Ishaan Tharoor contributed to this report. | Ishaan Tharoor contributed to this report. |