Hong Kong police quoted the words of passive resistance leader Mahatma Gandhi in a tweet calling for non-violence, the irony of which was not lost on netizens who pointed out that the activist fought for independence in India.
In a tweet published Saturday, police shared a quote from the leader—who guided India to independence after some 200 years of British rule—about non-violence being the “greatest force at the disposal of mankind,” and statistics showing the rise in violent crime in Hong Kong over the past year.
#MahatmaGandhi—apostle of peace+inspiration for @UN’s #IntlDayOfNonViolence—once said,‘#Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong’.Given a 3.2% YoY⬆️in violent crimes in🇭🇰in 1H2021, let’s make #violence a thing of the past in all corners of 🌍#ViolenceBegetsViolence#SayNoToViolence pic.twitter.com/teNMRVYvix
— Hong Kong Police Force (@hkpoliceforce) October 2, 2021
“Given a 3.2% YoY [increase] in violent crimes in Hong Kong in [the first half of 2021], let’s make #violence a thing of the past in all corners of [the world],” the emoji-filled tweet read.
Calling for independence in Hong Kong can land one a life sentence under the national security law, which criminalizes acts deemed as secession.
“Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times,” a popular protest slogan chanted during the anti-extradition movement in 2019, is now considered illegal. The government said last year that the phrase has connotations with Hong Kong independence.
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On Twitter, netizens were quick to mock the police’s tweet.
Gandhi was fighting for *checks notes* an independent Indian nation https://t.co/cNLDtn9E0z
— Goofrider (@goofrider) October 2, 2021
“Tell me you know very little about Mahatma Gandhi without telling me you know very little about Mahatma Gandhi,” one person wrote.
Others responded with pictures of police firing pepper spray at protesters at close distance and beating demonstrators with batons.
