HONG KONG: Thousands of Hong Kong senior citizens, including a popular actress, marched on Wednesday in a show of support for youths at the forefront of monthlong protests against a contentious extradition bill in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

The seniors also slammed the police for their handling of a protest on Sunday in Hong Kong’s Sha Tin district. That protest was mostly peaceful but ended in mayhem when violent scuffles in a shopping mall saw dozens injured, including a policeman who had a finger bitten off, and over 40 people detained.

Veteran actress and singer Deanie Ip, who joined Wednesday’s demonstration, said police shouldn’t use heavy-handed tactics against young protesters who “have no guns” and were peacefully expressing their frustrations.

“They are young people and they are doing the right thing. Why are they being mistreated?” she said.

Ip and several others held a banner reading “Support youth to protect Hong Kong” as they marched through a financial district. Wearing white tops and black pants, marchers held placards that read “Never give up,” “Stay together” and “Reject police tyranny.” Some elders in wheelchairs also joined the march. Organisers said about 8,000 people participated in the demonstration.

Hong Kong has been jolted for over a month by a series of large-scale and occasional violent protests amid widespread anger over a proposed extradition law that would send suspects to mainland China to face trials.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2019