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Hong Kong Umbrella Movement For Independence: Two Years Later And Nathan Law, Edward Leung, Leaders Still Struggle To Be Heard

By Patrick Frye
Published on: 04:43 PST, Aug 30, 2016

Two years ago, the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement had forced central Hong Kong to shut down as peaceful protests took to the streets. Edward Leung had tried to make the people see an alternative to the mainstay politics, but much like Gary Johnson in the United States this year, he’s seen no workable results.

According to Channel News Asia, campaigner Nathan Law has found making any difference at all to be taxing. Between handing out flyers to morning commuters, he has to man three different voting stations every day. In 2014, he had gained the following of thousands of young students in the fight for democracy, and he’s no closer to winning a seat in the Legislative Council than he was then.

Sadly, Nathan Law looks around today and realizes his peaceful protest made no difference in the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement. More radical protester Edward Leung is still largely ignored by those in charge, though now he awaits trial for taking part in a riot earlier this year. BBC says Leung compared his efforts with those of black civil rights activists who spawned a movement, ever so slight, toward racial equality in the United States.

“After the failure of the protests I started to question myself – am I willing to pay a higher price? Like the history of black power in US in 1960s. There was a man called Malcolm X, there was a man called Martin Luther King. People advocate their own means no matter if it’s peaceful or forceful one. I advocate all means.

“Of course if peaceful means could change society then I would love to do so because it’s less costly. But if it’s essential to use more radical means to put pressure on the government I’m open to use this means, more forceful means.”

Sadly, it was Rodney King who had jumpstarted one of the most memorable protests in recent history. Footage of him being beaten by white police officers inspired riots in Los Angeles, similar to what Black Lives Matter has done in recent years. Leung has realized that people will react a lot more strongly to violent means as opposed to the peaceful Hong Kong Umbrella Movement of 2014.

Unfortunately, along with Nathan Law, Leung has now been banned from standing in the Council because authorities fear he may start a movement toward independence. Independent thinking is against the ideals of China’s government, and the nation has been known to even ban its citizens’ access to most mainstream social media sites. They even ban images of a large yellow duck because of what it symbolizes.

Political commentator Bao Pu has stated that if the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement continues on a violent level favoring independence, it would easily lead to China’s overwhelming resistance.

“To gain independence, the only way is for Hong Kong to have an independent army and fight with the People’s Liberation Army and win. I think that scenario is non-existent.”

Alvin Yeung of the Civic Party is running for re-election this year, and while he doesn’t support the idea of independence or the ideals brought to light by the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement in 2014, he supports the right of individuals to express their thoughts. He blames Beijing itself for the inability of those ideals to gain ground.

“They have been interfering with HK affairs dramatically. We used to believe that even if we can’t choose our own chief executive we can choose our own legislature. But now this year this government is demonstrating the opposite. They handpicked a few candidates. This is very worrying.”

The Hong Kong Umbrella Movement might not gain any momentum, but the men running for candidacy in support of it are still trying.

[Image via Daniel Fung / Shutterstock.com]

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