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Hong Kong pro-democracy protests have escalated into violence on their 12th weekend.
What was planned to be a peaceful march over surveillance concerns on Saturday turned into chaos. Hong Kong police used tear gas for the first time in 10 days, while protestors wielded makeshift weapons, reported Business Insider's Ellen Cranley.
These marches are the latest of several large-scale marches protestors have organized in the past three months, when the movement began to push off an extradition bill that has since been suspended. Protesters have since continued their efforts in an attempt to uphold democracy. Efforts have alternated between being peaceful and violent.
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Below, see how this weekend's most recent Hong Kong developments descended into violence.
In June, Hong Kong residents began protesting a now-suspended bill that would have allowed courts to extradite them to mainland China. Bill critics argued Hong Kong residents would be subjected to unfair trials and worse legal protections in the mainland.
The protests then grew into a fight over democracy in the semi-autonomous region, addressing free elections and independent investigations into alleged police brutality.
For the past 12 weeks, hundreds of thousands of protesters have organized several large-scale marches, the storming of government buildings, widespread strikes around the city, and the shutting down of an airport. Some have been peaceful, others violent.
In recent weeks, China has toughened its crackdown on those it deems supportive of the unrest. Experts say it's part of China's strategy to intimidate and spread disinformation in response to the pro-democracy protests, which show no sign of slowing.
A peaceful march was planned for Saturday to protest against government-installed "smart lampposts," which the Hong Kong government said only collect data on traffic, weather, and air quality. However, the lampposts sparked concerns among residents over state surveillance.
"Hong Kong people's private information is already being extradited to China," organizer Ventus Lau told the Associated Press ahead of the procession. "We have to be very concerned."
The march occurred in Kwun Tong at 1 p.m. Around 2:30 p.m., a group of protesters constructed makeshift street barricades and weapons. Police reportedly formed a defense line and urged protestors to disperse.
The policemen in riot gear and protesters who set up the makeshift street barricades ended up clashing outside a police station and near a shopping mall.
Protesters reportedly dismantled some poles with saws and ropes, shutting down streets and wielding slingshots, poles, iron bars, and bricks in a fight with police.
Police fired pepper spray and tear gas, breaking a 10-day streak of no tear gas and adding to the 1,800 canisters police said they have fired in the clashes since the movement's actions first emerged in June.
The weekend's violence continued on Sunday. Protesters began marching on a rainy day around 2:30 p.m. at Kwai Chung Sports Ground to Tsuen Wan Park, where more clashes began.
Protesters reportedly chanted: "The five core demands, we won't accept anything less" and "corrupt cops, give us the eye back." The latter referred to an incident on August 11, when a woman was reportedly shot in the eye with a beanbag round.
Protesters encountered police as they neared the endpoint, marked by makeshift roadblocks. Democratic Party legislator Andrew Wan reportedly tried to mediate and ask the police to wait for protesters to leave, but was unsuccessful.
Police deployed tear gas. They also used water cannons for the first time, directing them towards barricades and open space without targeting protesters.
The police force had reportedly purchased three Mercedes Benz trucks worth HK$27 million (roughly $34 million). After months of preparation, they deployed two of them.
A few Tsuen Wan marchers told the Hong Kong Free Press they hoped protests would continue into September, when there's a planned class boycott among students.
