Letters | Violence is ruining the message from Hong Kong protests: stop your rioting

To answer police violence with rioting just makes two wrongs, not a right

Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Letters

Published: 8:00am, 9 Jul 2019

Why you can trust SCMP

Freedom is nice — freedom is the best. You can express yourself. You can have choices, you can control your own life. What if our freedom is taken away from us?

We protest, we will try our best to let the stakeholders hear our voice: to let them know freedom is our human right. That is justice, that is what we should do.

The June 9 and June 16 protests were great. We showed the world the seemingly impossible — Hongkongers protested peacefully. Millions of people came out to fight against injustice and tell the world that we deserve freedom.

But, what if the protests went too far? What if the protests turned violent? Then it is a riot. Rioting is not protesting. Rioting is violence. Why? Why can’t we protest peacefully? Why do some people have to ruin and twist our original message? People in Hong Kong don’t want violence and blood, we don’t want to create trouble. We just hope the government will listen to the people, listen to our voice.

Please, wake up. That the police went too far doesn’t mean you should too. What is the point of destroying the Legislative Council building? Is that what you call a “protest”? Is that what you want?

People around the world supported us but you ruined it. People around the world believed in us, but you didn’t. Because of your actions, everything is ruined. What is the difference between you – the rioting protesters – and those policemen who went too far? Nothing. Your action is wrong, please stop. Please, stop your action for the sake of Hong Kong and its citizens. You made our tears count for nothing. You are wrong.

Protester who stormed Hong Kong’s legislature reveals his side of story

Martin Luther King Jnr once said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

We cannot use violence against violence. I have another quote for all of you: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

If you don't want to listen to a random Hongkonger who really cares about Hong Kong, then maybe a quote from a man who fought for human rights will change your mind.

If you truly care about Hong Kong, if you truly want to speak for all of us, then stop. Stop your rioting. Stop ruining our Hong Kong, stop twisting our voice just because you want to damage stuff, stop making us look bad. Seven million people want freedom, want justice. We don’t want violence. You have disappointed everyone.

T. Yeung, Kwun Tong

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