The Umbrella Revolution

Hong Kong was shaken to its core on Sept. 28, when police in riot gear weilded tear gas and rubber bullets against youth-led pro-democracy protesters — whose numbers are estimated to have swelled into the tens of thousands. The resulting standoff is ongoing. The island city, a former British colony and now a special administrative region of China, has increasingly clashed with Beijing, which has backtracked from the promise of universal suffrage in Hong Kong by requiring that Beijing pre-approve all candidates for the island’s head of government. Protesters quickly improvised by using saran wrap and umbrellas to shield themselves from tear gas; as dark descended on Sept. 28, many of them lay down to sleep. Protests continued the next day, and after midnight — now Sept. 30 in Hong Kong time — as protesters, blocking certain Hong Kong streets, continue to hold their ground.

Above, riot police spray pepper spray at a protester in Hong Kong, Sept. 27.

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Pro-democracy protesters gather at a rally in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay area, Sept. 29.

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A pro-democracy protester confronts police, Sept. 28. Hong Kong’s business district stands in the background.

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Pro-democracy protesters raise their hands in front of police, Sept. 28.

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Police fire tear gas at demonstrators near Hong Kong’s government headquarters, Sept. 28. The umbrellas, used to protect against the tear gas, have become symbols of the movement.

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Riot policemen take position opposite pro-democracy demonstrators, Sept. 28. Many Hong Kong residents were surprised at the show of force.

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A clash with riot police, Sept. 28.

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A pro-democracy demonstrator pours water over the face of a man exposed to tear gas, Sept. 28. Police had fired tear gas at a rally near Hong Kong’s government headquarters.

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Protesters wave their cell phones in the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex, Sept. 29.

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Hong Kong policemen in the Admiralty district rest following pro-democracy protests, Sept. 29.

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A pro-democracy protester wears plastic wrap over her glasses to protect herself from pepper spray at a rally near Hong Kong’s government headquarters, Sept. 28.

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Pro-democracy protesters rest around empty buses as they block Nathan Road, a major route through the heart of Hong Kong’s Kowloon district, Sept. 29.

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Protesters disperse after police fired tear gas near Hong Kong’s government headquarters, Sept. 28.

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Pro-democracy demonstrators clash with police officers in riot gear during a rally near Hong Kong’s government headquarters, Sept. 28.

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Pro-democracy demonstrators rest after a night of protesting at a rally outside the Hong Kong government headquarters, Sept. 29.

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Protestors and student demonstrators hold up their cellphones in a display of solidarity during a protest outside Hong Kong’s Legislative Council headquarters, Sept. 29.

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Police officers face pro-democracy protesters near Hong Kong’s police headquarters in the city’s Wan Chai area, Sept. 29.

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Protesters parade a large cut-out of the head of Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung in the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex, Sept. 29.

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A pro-democracy demonstrator raises an umbrella after police fired tear gas at protesters near Hong Kong’s government headquarters, Sept. 28.

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