"Hong Kong, In the name of Democracy"
In 2019, massive protests erupted in Hong Kong as residents took to the streets to oppose a controversial extradition bill proposed by the government. This legislation would have allowed suspects to be transferred to mainland China for trial, raising widespread fears that it would erode Hong Kong's judicial independence, expose individuals to Beijing's opaque legal system, and undermine the "one country, two systems" framework established after the 1997 handover from British rule.
What began as peaceful demonstrations in March quickly escalated into one of the largest pro-democracy movements in modern history, drawing millions of participants, including up to 2 million in a single march, and resulting in intense clashes with police, who were accused of using excessive force, including tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons. Although the bill was suspended in June and fully withdrawn by September, the protests evolved into broader demands for universal suffrage, an independent inquiry into police brutality, and greater democratic freedoms, continuing into 2020 amid rising tensions with Beijing.
During this pivotal period, I spent six months in Hong Kong, documenting the pro-democracy movement through photography and video. My work captured the raw energy of the demonstrators' resolve as well as the alarming brutality exhibited by the Hong Kong Police Force.
This firsthand project culminated in the publication of my book, *Hong Kong, In the Name of Democracy* (ISBN: 978-2-9199676-0-5), a photojournalistic tribute that honors the courage and sacrifices of those fighting for freedom and human rights. Released in 2021, the book is archived at the National Library of Luxembourg and serves as a lasting record of this historic struggle.