On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the “612” anti-extradition movement, Hong Kong residents in the San Francisco Bay Area held a one-day “Tears of Freedom” Hong Kong protest exhibition on June 14th (last Saturday) in South Bay. The exhibition reviewed the democratic resistance journey of Hong Kong from 2003 to 2025 and called on the international community to remember that “Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World”, to continue the fight against the extreme authoritarianism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The exhibition showcased dozens of physical items and models, including tear gas canisters, masks, helmets, modified high-power flashlights, the final issue of the “Apple Daily” in 2021, underground publications such as the “Little Yellow Book”, and on-site photos. It also featured a simulated prison and street scene models. According to statistics, from June 2019 to January the following year, Hong Kong police fired over 16,000 tear gas rounds. The exhibition also offered “tear gas-flavored cakes” made with spicy ingredients like pepper, allowing audiences to experience the stimulation and oppression endured by frontline protesters.
The exhibition looked back on Hong Kong’s protest journey since 2003. After Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997, Beijing had promised “One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong, a high degree of autonomy, unchanged for fifty years.” However, less than six years later, in 2003, Beijing attempted to push through Article 23 of the Basic Law, leading to protests of 500,000 people hitting the streets, marking the beginning of the annual “July 1st March” democratic tradition.
Since then, Hong Kong’s citizens have persistently initiated protest movements, including opposition to the demolition of Queen’s Pier, the extradition bill, national education, and the Umbrella Movement, Fishball Revolution, and the 2019 anti-extradition protests. Hongkongers continue to take to the streets for freedom and genuine universal suffrage. The 2019 protests peaked with million-strong marches, the 831 Prince Edward MTR station incident, police using live ammunition for the first time, the battles at PolyU and CUHK, the death of Chow Tsz-lok, the passing of the “Anti-Mask Law”, and over ten thousand arrests, making it an international focal point.
In 2020, the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law was forcefully implemented, leading to a rapid decline in press and speech freedoms, with Jimmy Lai imprisoned and independent media outlets like Apple Daily forced to shut down. Recently, authorities have expanded political vetting, incorporating national security clauses into various licensing regimes, covering industries such as caterers, factories, commercial bathhouses, and mortuaries, further squeezing civic space.
The exhibition’s curator, Miss Shi, told Epoch Times that the preparation took two to three months, aiming not only to commemorate “612” but also to convey to Americans that the CCP is untrustworthy. She mentioned that many protesters have suffered from post-traumatic stress, with Joshua Wong being accused of colluding with foreign forces even though he is behind bars, indicating that Hong Kong’s rule of law has degenerated into a tool for suppressing democracy and freedom. She hopes that people will not forget the suffering of Hongkongers, show care and support for them, and prevent them from feeling isolated.
Nineteen-year-old exile to the United States, exhibitor Leung Kai-chun (also known as “Fragile Lord”), is currently studying at an American university, earning straight A’s this semester by completing 26 credits. In the exhibition, he displayed his student ID and emails sent to him by the Hong Kong police national security unit. He revealed that at 15, he was raided by the police at home for online comments, and at 16, he fled to the United States alone, still feeling a strong sense of detachment. He believes the exhibition can awaken the public’s memories of the original intentions of the protests, reminding people to hold on to the fire in their hearts and not forget to resist the CCP. He emphasized, “Coming to the United States is not to escape but to go further.” Through his experiences, he hopes to educate more Americans about Hong Kong and the true nature of CCP authoritarianism.
White American artist Rick Weyrich deeply loves Hong Kong, describing it as the most unique place in the world for him, “It’s a bit like New York, a bit like Paris, and a bit like China – I just want to stay there forever.” In 2006, he fell in love with the city on his first visit for work and even requested his employer to transfer him to Hong Kong upon returning to the United States, stating, “I don’t need a raise, just enough to rent a place; I am willing to work for the company for everyone.”
He personally participated in the 2014 “Umbrella Movement” and has since annually taken part in the “June 4” candlelight vigil held in San Francisco. In 2019, he voiced his support for the anti-extradition movement in San Francisco and was featured in the Apple Daily. In recent years, he has used art to document Hong Kong, raising awareness among non-Chinese American audiences about the democratic challenges faced by Hong Kong and actively participating in various community activities.
Weyrich admitted that the recent changes in Hong Kong have left him both angry and saddened. He said, “I really want to go back once more, but it may not be safe now; I am probably on Xi Jinping’s blacklist.”
Chinese democracy activist Fang Zheng also attended the event and stated that the exhibition, along with the films shown, collectively provided a precious historical retrospective. “Although Hong Kong’s resistance is close at hand, it is gradually becoming history; we must understand, remember, and pass it on.”
Guan Yong-jie, a mainland Chinese recently arrived in the United States, shared his conversation with a young Taiwanese person, lamenting that some Taiwanese people have a mistaken understanding of the evil nature of the CCP and even hold a mentality of surrender. He pointed out the vast difference in clarity and resilience displayed by the Hong Kong people, with only 7 million residents having two million people taking to the streets.
Throughout the event, “Glory to Hong Kong” was continuously played, creating a solemn and moving atmosphere with nearly 200 people in attendance. After viewing the exhibition, the audience watched the documentary “Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Struggle for Freedom” and the film “In This Valley of Dying Stars.”