The darker the sky, the brighter the stars——People and events of the anti-extradition law movement

In June 2019, a piece of legislation to be amended triggered an anti-amendment movement of such magnitude that no one had expected.

Weekend after weekend, one million people marched, two million people marched, and 1.8 million people rallied. Then day after day, there were different parties, Lennon Walls in various districts, and people holding hands. Chain activities, "lunch with you" at lunch, gathering in various shopping malls to sing anti-extradition songs - tens of thousands of citizens shouted to the government in different ways and expressed their demands.

The government eventually withdrew the amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. However, in addition to withdrawing, the police fired thousands of tear gas, rubber bullets, sponge bombs, bean bag rounds and even live ammunition, turning a blind eye to the men in white who rushed into the MTR carriages and attacked. Some police officers walked onto the carriages and waved sticks indiscriminately, and even attacked university campuses; Many demonstrators were arrested, injured, and even died after being seriously injured at the demonstration site. Many people were scared, crying, and couldn't sleep at night.

Many people know this from reports and live broadcasts.

As a journalist and university lecturer, Tan Huiyun went to different demonstration sites, observed the actions of both sides, and recorded important historical moments. However, what she wrote about most was not the big scenes of the conflict, but the shots that could not capture them. The focus is on the little people - they may be parents who accompany their children to march, retired couples who have changed their living habits in order to support yellow shops, expectant parents who are still participating in the parade, or those who continue to fight after their income has been greatly reduced due to social movements. Volunteer drivers who are brave and drive young people home after conflicts, and even taxi drivers who don’t understand who is right and who is wrong but can’t ignore young people.

Facing the endless night, the seemingly obscure stars shine brighter and brighter. Ultimately it was impossible to ignore.
"During this movement, I witnessed the spirit of Hong Kong people that had never been shown before, and I also felt the entrustment of journalists by the citizens - they opened their hearts and showed their vulnerability, so that I could record the sadness of an era and record it. The glimmer of an era."──Tan Huiyun