A decade later, Hong Kong’s massive democracy protests remain an enduring memory

HONG KONG (AP) — Scores of red Chinese flags now flap near the Hong Kong government headquarters in preparation for China’s national day as police patrolled the area thousands of demonstrators occupied a decade ago to protest Beijing’s restrictions on candidates running for the city’s top job.

In Sept. 2014, protesters fended off police’s pepper spray using their umbrellas in a 79-day face-off, and the largely peaceful Umbrella Movement saw more people join an encampment around the two nearby bridges.

The movement, also known as Occupy Central, catalyzed a profound political awakening among many young Hong Kongers and shaped the huge anti-government protests in 2019, the biggest challenge to Beijing since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing, in return, imposed a sweeping national security law that critics say cracked down on freedoms and saw many activists jailed while others fled the territory.

Many leading activists have been prosecuted, including some former leaders of the 2014 movement. Legal scholar Benny Tai, dubbed Occupy co-founder, awaits sentencing over an unofficial primary in the city’s biggest national security case. The movement’s then-student leaders Joshua Wong and Lester Shum also remain in custody.

Nathan Law, another former student leader, was forced into self-exile and is among a group of overseas-based activists targeted by police bounties. Two other Occupy co-founders — scholar Chan Kin-man and Rev. Chu Yiu-ming — moved to Taiwan. Another former student leader Alex Chow is pursuing a doctoral degree in the United States.

Dozens of civil society groups were disbanded. Apple Daily and Stand News, news outlets known for their critical reports of the government, were forced to shut down after the arrests of their top management.

Activist Raphael Wong, who was jailed over his role during the 2014 protests told The Associated Press Saturday he misses his fellow political party member Leung Kwok-hung, Tai and other political activists who were prosecuted.

The protests 10 years ago, Wong said, held immense significance for him and Hong Kong.

“If I have to put it in the simplest terms, I’d say it enlightened many Hong Kong people about civil disobedience and inspired the later anti-extradition bill movement in 2019,” he said.

While large-scale public commemorations are unlikely to occur in the city, some overseas-based Hong Kongers organized events to remember the movement in Britain, Canada, Taiwan, Australia and the Netherlands this month. Others recounted their memories of the protests on social media.

China-endorsed Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang on Thursday rejected that the city’s freedoms have shrunk over the past decade, insisting that the city’s 2020 security law and a new security law enacted in March provide sufficient safeguard for human rights.

This combination image made from two photos shows protesters holding a yellow banner with words reading: "I want genuine universal suffrage" on a barricade at the occupied area outside government headquarters in Hong Kong Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, top, and the same area on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows items belonging to protesters littered on the ground after police officers clear the occupied area outside government headquarters in Hong Kong Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, top, and the same area on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows student protesters occupy the streets surrounding the government headquarters in Hong Kong, early Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, top, and the same site on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows tents set up by pro-democracy protesters in an occupied area outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong's Admiralty district in Hong Kong Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, and the same site on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows a protester praying at an altar of Chinese Taoist God of War, Guan Yu, set up at a barricade on the main road of the occupied area in the Mong Kok district Hong Kong, Friday, Oct. 31, 2014, top, and the same site on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows tents set up by pro-democracy protesters in an occupied area outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong's Admiralty district Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, top, and the same site on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows workers sweeping after police cleared barricades and tents on a main road in the occupied areas at Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong Monday, Dec 15, 2014, top, and the same area on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows barricades set up by pro-democracy protester on a main road at the occupied area outside government headquarters in Hong Kong Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, top, and the same area on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos shows workers clearing away a tent and other barricades at an occupied area in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, top, and the same area on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Chan Long Hei)

This combination image made from two photos show tents set up by pro-democracy protesters at an occupied area outside government headquarters in Hong Kong's Admiralty district in Hong Kong Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, top, the same place on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, Chan Long Hei)

KANPUR, India (AP) — Day two of the second India-Bangladesh cricket test was abandoned without a ball bowled Saturday because of rain.

Persistent rain at the Green Park stadium had again prevented play in the morning session and conditions did not improve thereafter as the entire ground stayed under covers.

Lunch was taken as scheduled with Bangladesh unchanged at 107-3 in 35 overs in its first innings. All 35 overs were bowled on day one, which was also marred by rain.

After lunch, there was too much standing water on the covers.

On Friday, India had won the toss and opted to field for the first time in a home test since 2015.

India won the first test in Chennai by 280 runs to lead the two-match series.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The playing area of the Green Park stadium is covered due to rain on the second day of the second cricket test match between Bangladesh and India in Kanpur, India, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

The playing area of the Green Park stadium is covered due to rain on the second day of the second cricket test match between Bangladesh and India in Kanpur, India, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)