Remember the spirit of the protest movement, despite rising frustration and disillusionment

I am shocked and saddened at the events surrounding Friday’s protest – anti-Occupy protestors charging at students, police being hit with water bottles while they try to keep a line of defence, rumours of hired “thugs” deliberately sparking trouble.

There are reports of teenage girls being verbally and physically attacked, and haunting shouts of, “Shoot those students down!”

The students themselves are faltering in their stance of peace as they are stirred-up into very real conflict. They are beginning to fight back as lines become blurred. The shopkeepers and street cleaners, so generous in their restraint three days ago, are starting to express frustration as their monthly income takes the hit.

This may be a turning point.

As the leaders of the different protest groups have already made clear, there are now too many offshoots from the original protest – some that are entirely outside of their control. Even if they were to call off the protests now and tell everyone to go home, there may be too many independent groups (and radical ones at that) operating under their own banner and motives. The power has truly come into the hands of the people, but disorganisation is apparent and pulls uncomfortably at the movement. Like a burning match in a forest, power in the hands of the people can quickly become unwieldy.

I went to take photos on Friday night in Admiralty. It was such a contrast to even a few nights ago when I was there in the exact same spot trying to squirm my way through a sea of people. On Friday night, the numbers had dwindled and some roads were practically vacant. While on Tuesday it had felt like a proper protest, Friday felt more like a refugee camp. The streets had a “lived-in” feeling as rain-stained posters peeled from the walls and rubbish piled up on the road. The protesters themselves also looked tired, though still resolute.