Protesters in Hong Kong broke through the glass doors of a legislative building late evening on Monday, following a day of protests. Police warned the advancing protesters to stand down, but have not yet dissuaded them from progressing through the destroyed facade of the government building. Many continued to pull metal panels away from the building, as others continued to march through the streets. Protesters’ plans following the breach of the city building were not immediately clear.
Monday’s protest follows weeks of unrest in Hong Kong over proposed legislation that would allow China to extradite Hongkongers for prosecution under the communist rule of the mainland. Since it’s transfer from Britain to China in 1997, Hong Kong has maintained its own economic and governing system which includes an independent judiciary system. Many of the rights afforded in Hong Kong do not exist in the rest of China. A public celebration commemorating Hong Kong’s Chinese integration took place just one day earlier.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam supported the proposed legislation that would give China and President Xi Jinping more control over citizens of Hong Kong, but after millions took to the streets in protest, she suspended action on the bills. Residents demanded that Lam kill the bills entirely, and have now asked for her resignation.
Protests continued into the darkness on Monday, with demonstrators wearing hard hats and encouraging each other to continue with their mission. Signs held by some said, “Friends, don’t leave” and “People of Hong Kong, don’t give up.”
