School Students Rally To Back Five Demands

More than a hundred secondary school students on Friday took part in a rally at the University of Hong Kong to protest against what they call police brutality and to urge the government to accept the five demands of anti-government protesters.

The students from 11 secondary schools, most of whom wore school uniforms and face masks, chanted slogans such as “disband the police force immediately” and “Hongkongers, resist!” and sang protest songs.

Organisers of the rally claimed around 400 pupils took part.

One participant, a 16-year-old student surnamed Tse, said she joined to fight for a better future for the city.

She said she is no longer afraid of getting arrested for taking part in protests, after seeing that many young people have paid a high price in the past four months.

A 14-year-old student said he plays a “supportive” role in the protests, by delivering materials like masks and helmets to protesters. The teen said he’s not afraid of being arrested because he thinks he’s doing the right thing.

Barrister Billy Li from the Progressive Lawyers Group, who addressed the students, gave legal advice to the them, reminding them that they have a right to remain silent and seek legal representation after being arrested.