2014 Hong Kong protests facts for kids
The 2014 Hong Kong protests, also known as the Umbrella Revolution, were a series of large protests in Hong Kong that began on September 27, 2014. People were protesting against new rules for how Hong Kong's leader, called the Chief Executive, would be chosen in 2017.
A group of leaders in China had decided that a special committee would choose only a few people to run for Chief Executive. Citizens could then only vote for one of these chosen people. Even after winning, the new leader still needed final approval from the main government. Many people in Hong Kong felt this was not a truly fair election.
Student groups like the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism started protesting on September 22, 2014. They gathered outside the government buildings. On the evening of September 26, hundreds of protesters broke through a security fence and entered the plaza in front of the main government complex. The police then blocked off the area overnight. This caused even more protesters to join and surround the police.
The standoff between the protesters and police lasted for a day. During this time, police used shields, batons, and pepper spray on the unarmed protesters. A group called Occupy Central with Love and Peace then announced they would start their own peaceful protest right away.
On September 28, protesters moved onto Harcourt Road and then occupied Queensway. After several hours, police began using tear gas and water cannons on the crowds. They also warned that they might use rubber bullets if people did not leave.
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Images for kids
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Police officers surround the students protesting at Civic Square (27 September)
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10.45 am 28 September 2014 – Yellow ribbons adorn Civic Square fence after protestors ejected by Hong Kong Police
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Mask and ribbon-equipped democracy protester, Civic Party committee member and former legislator Audrey Eu interviewed on Lung Wui Rd near Tim Mei Ave, 10.53 am 28 September 2014
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The "Umbrella Man" photo as police dispersed peaceful demonstrators with tear gas.
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Alex Chow addresses Occupy Central Crowd, 2 October 2014 17:54
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Barricades on Hennessy Road, 13 October 2014
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Police dismantle roadblocks on Queensway
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A yellow vertical protest banner which read "We demand real universal suffrage" was hung on Lion Rock.
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A police cordon during the clearance of Mong Kok site, with yellow towers from which liquified tear gas was sprayed on protesters.
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Protesters and police face off in Mong Kok on 28 November.
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The minibus company cleaning Roadblocks at Connaught Road Central
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Protesters stay in Harcourt Road and not willing to leave
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Traffic being diverted off Connaught Road in Central on 30 September
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Anti-Occupy protesters in Causeway Bay, 12 October
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A double-decker bus in Mong Kok is used as a message board
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CNN news team reporting from Admiralty Occupy site, 1.35 pm 29 September 2014
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See also
In Spanish: Protestas en Hong Kong de 2014 para niños
