Wipha Fails To Dampen Protest Storm Outside Court

Hundreds of people dressed in black gathered outside Eastern Court on Wednesday morning to show support for those charged with rioting over Sunday’s protest in Western, despite the fact a tropical storm was closing in.

At times they chanted slogans in support of the protesters and against the government. The intermittent rain failed to reduce the crowd, some of whom held placards that said "Police violence is state terrorism" and called for for universal suffrage.

A man in his 30s, a sound designer, said he wanted to show his support if any of the defendants came out again on bail.

“We just came here to show our support. If any of the protesters can come out at this moment, they can see us, and they can feel all the Hong Kong people are supporting them and we are with them,” he told RTHK’s Violet Wong.

There was also a fair sprinkling of older people among the crowd.

A retired man in his 60s said he wanted to show his support because he felt the protesters were being treated more harshly than people accused of involvement in a mob attack at Yuen Long MTR Station earlier this month .

He noted that so far only about a dozen people linked to the attack have been arrested on suspicion of illegal assembly.

“Here, our youngsters, they just come out to look for a better Hong Kong, and now they are accused of riot. I don’t think it is reasonable,” he said.

A secondary school teacher said the rioting charge, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, is too harsh.

“I think the police or the government can charge the protesters with a less serious offence, just like unlawful assembly. I think this time it’s a bit too serious. I think since the handover, it’s one of the most serious situations,” he said.

Many opposition lawmakers also had turned up to show support for those in court. The Civic Party's Kwok Ka-ki, who addressed the crowd, accused Chief Executive Carrie Lam of being the root of the problem.

He also warned that using "draconian laws" against the protesters will only add to the problems. The only way to end this is to withdraw the extradition bill and order an independent probe into the saga, he said.

Forty-four people have been charged with rioting, the youngest among them a 16-year-old female student. A 45th defendant is charged with possessing weapons.