Those in search of parallels between the 2014 Occupy Central protests and those taking place today around LegCo, need look no further than the side of a government building in Admiralty — the “Lennon Wall” is back.
Launched at the height of the 2014 protests, the wall along a stairwell of the central government building, quickly became a focal point for Hongkongers who were looking to leave messages of hope and solidarity.
History is repeating itself this afternoon, with countless residents, mostly the young, approaching the wall and leaving their own handwritten notes encouraging each other in the push against legislation that would open the door for Hongkongers to be tried in mainland Chinese courts.
“I wanted to give some words of encouragement to Hongkongers here. I know it’s been really tough for everyone and everyone is feeling quite tired. So I hope they’ll come here, read my message and feel empowered and keep going, and know that there are a lot of people supporting them,” a 19-year-old student who declined to give her name told us after posting her own message.
“I didn’t take part in the Umbrella Movement because I was quite young at the time. But now that I’m a lot older, I feel like it’s my responsibility to show up”
While frowned on by authorities in 2014 — one young teen was reportedly arrested at the time — the Lennon Wall quickly blossomed into a colorful centerpiece of the Occupy protest.
While long painted over, the wall was part of a legacy of art produced amid that turmoil that the Coconuts Hong Kong team covered extensively at the time. You can read our 2014 story on the phenomenon here.
Reporting by Vicky Wong.
