OPINION: Honorable Mentions: Creative Demonstrations of 2019

Protesters in Hong Kong and Taiwan leave messages on sticky notes on “Lennon walls.” (Pexels)

While democratic back-sliding has become common in recent years around the world, social movements are creating new ways to mobilize and sustain support in East and Southeast Asia.

With frequent police crackdowns on demonstrations, the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement has embraced wearing masks since the protests against a proposed extradition bill began in June, according to Reuters. These colorful masks serve to protect protesters from the police’s regular use of tear gas, Vox reports. The South China Morning Post finds that the masks’ subversive implications also drive their use.

In response to this tactic, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam introduced a face mask ban in early October, according to BBC. This sparked spontaneous demonstrations in the following days as protesters are equipped to prevent personal identification. 

Concerns over arrests pose obstacles to people’s participation in the pro-democracy movement. To mobilize the concerned supporters, protesters have devised methods to minimize the possibility of police intervention. Using sticky notes, people have expressed their anger since 2014 on “Lennon walls,” which do not require prolonged physical presence. Taiwanese protesters have also replicated these walls.

Thai pro-democracy activists have tried a unique method in their protests: appropriating charity runs. Under police pressure to cease anti-government protests, these activists organized a Run Against Dictatorship event on January 14, BBC reports. Drawing at least 10,000 runners, it is the largest demonstration in the six-year civilian rule of the ex-coup leader and former-General Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

While the region maintains a poor ranking on Freedom House’s democracy index, it is likely that we will see more creative methods of demonstration as citizens strive for greater freedom.