How Universities Became the New Battlegrounds in the Hong Kong Protests
This was the scene on Sunday night at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The clashes here between the police and protesters marked a new level of violence in a protest movement that started peacefully in June.
The city’s universities had been sanctuaries for the young protesters at the core of a movement about preserving Hong Kong’s autonomy from China. But last week, the police confronted increasingly aggressive demonstrators at several campuses.
One of the worst clashes began a week ago on Monday at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where police said they suspected the school was being used as a “weapon factory.” Protesters had barricaded themselves on campus, while the police stayed at the edge.
CUHK Campus Radio via Facebook
That Tuesday, riot officers stormed across the No. 2 Bridge and onto campus, firing hundreds of rounds of tear gas after university representatives were unable to defuse the situation.
Protesters fled to a nearby athletic field as tear gas rained down on them.
Rodman Lok via Twitter
Ezra Cheung via Twitter
The confrontation continued to escalate through the night. Protesters set a large barricade on fire. Police cannons sprayed a stinging blue liquid at protesters.
At least 30 people were treated that night in a makeshift first-aid center at a gymnasium next to the athletic field.
Ezra Cheung via Twitter
Protesters dispersed on Friday after occupying the university for five days. Similar protests roiled other campuses across the city. Many canceled classes for the rest of the semester.
Hong Kong
Polytechnic University
Reuters
Hong Kong
Baptist University
Symedialab via Facebook
University of
Hong Kong
RTHK via Facebook
City University
of Hong Kong
City Broadcasting Channel via Facebook
Hong Kong Polytechnic University erupted on Sunday as riot officers surrounded the campus and tried to clear protesters who had bunkered there all week.
Antony Dapiran @antd via Twitter
The protesters built brick walls, constructed giant slingshots and made gasoline bombs.
The protesters shut down the Cross Harbour Tunnel, an important throughway, which is adjacent to the university. A bridge above the toll plaza was set on fire Sunday night.
At the entrance to the university at Chatham Road, another battle raged for more than 24 hours.
Protesters threw hundreds of fire bombs while the police retaliated with tear gas and deployed water cannons. At one point, officers tried to storm the university, but retreated after protesters set a huge barricade on fire.
Hundreds of protesters attempted to flee the university Monday morning but were met with an onslaught of tear gas from the police.
Some made daring escapes climbing down ropes off a bridge. Others tried to get out through a sewer. But after a three-day siege, the majority of protesters — more than 1,100 of them — were captured by or surrendered to the police.
