Hong Kong Protesters Overcome Obstacles During Sheffield March Against HK National Security Law

Today, the Hong Kong organization Re-Water led a march in Sheffield to expose the three-year atrocities inflicted upon Hong Kong by the Chinese Communist Party’s National Security Law. As participants gathered, at least one individual with a military-style haircut navigated through the crowd, observed the attendees, and made frequent phone calls. When a march participant noticed this behavior and followed him, he entered a nearby store. Shortly after the march began, three men dressed in black and speaking Mandarin Chinese followed the procession for a distance. One of the volunteers handed them leaflets and invited them to take pictures together, but they immediately became confrontational, provoking and pushing the protesters, using profanity and gestures to insult the volunteers and those attempting to mediate. They deliberately obstructed the progress of the march, resulting in verbal altercations with some participants.

Simultaneously, in the middle of the march, two Chinese international students claiming to be from Sheffield University intervened when local Hong Kongers distributed leaflets. They protested against the anti-China march and reached out to grab and pull the lighted umbrella held by a Hong Kong protester. Several people present at the scene physically blocked their aggressive actions against the protesters. Shortly after, the police intervened. The two individuals, in an agitated manner, questioned the assisting officers, exclaiming, “But, they say Hong Kong is not China, WHY… WHY!” They conversed with the police in Mandarin Chinese, protesting the Hong Kong protesters’ exercise of their right to freedom of assembly.

Fortunately, with the assistance of the British police and some supportive local residents, the march was able to proceed smoothly without any injuries to the participants. Moreover, their presence encouraged some locals to join the march, showcasing the solidarity among Hong Kongers and their determination to continue their struggle.

In the United Kingdom, everyone enjoys the right to assembly and protest. While we believe that Chinese individuals present have the right to express their opinions, they do not have the right to obstruct our actions. If their opposition is genuine, we are more than willing to engage in rational dialogue and debate, rather than resorting to violence.

As Hong Kongers, we are deeply angered by the aggressive and barbaric behavior of Chinese individuals who prevented us from peacefully marching in a democratic country that respects citizens’ rights. We reiterate: We are Hongkongers, and Hong Kong is not China!

Hong Kongers, do not be afraid! We will continue to declare to the world that we must distance ourselves from the Chinese Communist regime, which commits crimes against humanity, destroys Hong Kong’s freedom, and supports Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

We demand the following:

1. Sheffield should sever its sister city relationships with cities under the control of the Chinese Communist regime, namely Anshan and Chengdu.
2. British Prime Minister, should fulfill his promise immediately by closing all Confucius Institutes.
3. Protect the freedom of assembly and protest for Hong Kongers in the United Kingdom.

【港區國安法3周年7.1遊行】中國人阻止港人，香港人表達憤怒

今天（2023年7月1日），在英國舉行的雪菲爾德香港人組織Re-Water發起的7.1遊行，旨在揭示中共利用國家安全法對香港的侵害已經進行了三年。然而，遊行集合時，一名男子穿著陸軍髮型的制服出現在人群中，不斷觀察參與者並接打電話，當有參與遊行者發現後跟著他，他進入一家商店中。遊行剛剛開始時，三名穿著黑衣、講普通話的男子尾隨著遊行隊伍一段路程，其中一人接過義工派發的傳單，並邀請他們一起拍照，然後立即針對遊行人士進行挑釁、推撞，並辱罵義工和試圖調解的人，刻意阻礙遊行隊伍前進，隨後與部分遊行人士發生口角。

與此同時，在遊行隊伍的中間，有兩名自稱是雪菲爾德大學的中國留學生突然介入，並抗議香港人舉辦反中遊行，拉扯遊行者手中的光時旗。當下，幾位外國人用自己的身體阻擋他們對遊行者的粗暴行為，不久，警察介入。此時，這兩名中國留學生激動地向警察質問，用普通話抗議遊行中的香港人行使集會自由的權利，並詢問「但是，他們說香港不是中國，為什麼…為什麼！」。

幸運的是，得到英國警方和一些熱心本地人的協助，遊行得以繼續進行，沒有人因此受傷，反而吸引了一些本地人加入遊行隊伍，直到遊行結束並完成集會。這也展示了香港人互相守護、堅持抗爭的意志。

在英國，每個人都享有集會和遊行的自由。我們認為在場的中國人有權表達他們的意見，但無權阻止我們的行動。如果他們真的持有內心的反對意見，我們樂意以理性的方式進行交流和辯論，而不是使用暴力。

作為香港人，我們對在自由民主的國家被中國人阻止遊行並使用粗暴野蠻行為拉扯遊行者的示威物品感到非常憤怒，並再次重申：我們是香港人，香港不是中國！

香港人不要害怕！我們將繼續向世界宣告，我們必須與犯下反人類罪、摧毀香港人自由、支持俄羅斯攻擊烏克蘭的中共政權劃清界限。

我們現在要求：
1）雪菲爾德應與中共政權控制的城市鞍山和成都斷絕姐妹城市關係。
2）英國首相辛偉誠應立即履行承諾，關閉所有孔子學院。
3）保護在英國的香港人的遊行和集會自由。

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ReWaterCIC