HONG KONG—Remember, remember the 5th of November. That was the famous chant of Guy Fawkes Day, celebrated in the UK, then immortalized in the graphic novel and “V for Vendetta,” where it took on the meaning of a hero standing up against an oppressive government. The white, wildly grinning mask has found its way into almost every major scene of popular resistance around the world.
We had heard word early in the day that protesters in Hong Kong would don that infamous mask and march at the two major protest sites, Mong Kok and Admiralty.
Mong Kok is rough. Far rougher than the much larger protest site at Admiralty. I’ve heard some say that Admiralty is the Umbrella Movement, Monk Kok the Umbrella Revolution. It’s where clashes between police and protesters are more frequent and intense. There’s been alleged interference by Triads and the often-surly anti-Occupy crowd recognizable by the blue ribbons they wear.
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At the time, it was unclear what sparked the events the evening of November 5. Police were on edge. Some protesters were shouting. Then close to midnight, things erupted. Rumors are a protester took photos of policemen with the flash on, and with the tension in the air and the sea of grinning masks, police were not feeling particularly photogenic.
An arrest happened, crowds swelled, police beat a protester to the ground, and a tense standoff at the barricades ensued. Police and protesters faced off eye-to-eye, with only a small barricade and a few feet of space between them. And in that tiny gulf, separating police and protesters, my crew and I stood.
