On Sept. 4, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced she would withdraw the extradition bill that many have protested against since its creation in October. If passed, the bill would have allowed Hong Kong citizens who’ve committed crimes to be extradited to other territories, including mainland China and Taiwan, if they’re also wanted there. 

The bill was created to tackle the issue Hong Kong resident Chan Tong-kai created when moving to Taiwan allowed him to escape charge for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend. Introduced by John Lee, Secretary for Security, and administered by Andrew Leung, President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, the extradition bill caused widespread fear of the potential erosion of Hong Kong’s legal system and its built-in safeguards. Many also saw the extradition bill as Beijing’s way to control the citizens of Hong Kong by catching those who criticize the Chinese socialist government, as they had supported the creation of the extradition bill.

Protests within Hong Kong and in other cities abroad called for Lam to step down from her position, to which she responded with a delay of the bill. Last week, the bill was formally withdrawn. However, protests have not ceased. The withdrawal of the bill actually provoked the protesters, who claimed that Lam did “too little, too late.”

Another issue that has arisen concerns the Hong Kong police force. Many have claimed that the police have been brutally abusing the protesters by assaulting them, interrogating them, and demanding they show their ID’s. Though they were peacefully protesting against the extradition bill, many people have reported police brutality and demand fairness and justice. This peaceful protest against the Hong Kong system has ravaged into a violent one, with citizens smashing and destroying buildings, pavement, and glass, while the police counter their retaliation with tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons.

Against both of these issues the citizens of Hong Kong protested, and they are now calling upon the might of the U.S. to assist them in establishing self-determination from China. Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of the bustling enclave towards the U.S. consulate, singing in unison the “Star-Spangled Banner” and waving the flag of stars and stripes. The protesters believe, with President Trump’s help, the combined force of their voices and U.S. intervention can push Chinese authorities back and grant Hong Kong the autonomy they want.  

As for why they believe the U.S. will support Hong Kong, a local protester named Catherine explained, “The U.S government treasures democracy, justice, and human rights.” Like Catherine, many protesters hope the U.S. will be inclined to help people who share the same ideology. They want Congress to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which would instruct Washington, D.C. to assess Hong Kong’s level of autonomy from Beijing and cancel trade if the autonomy is compromised. They hope this will cause Beijing leadership to be more cautious about annexing the enclave, as it would economically hurt China, who values the city as an important trading port.

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