Opinion | Hong Kong protests have taken the globe by storm. Now the world must stand up to China

Most democracy protests are short-lived, garner little international attention and are confined to state capitals. The ongoing protests in Hong Kong are exceptional, having endured for more than 22 weeks. They’ve spread to cities and college campuses across the globe, challenged international businesses, and attracted the support of foreign governments as well as politicians of contrasting ideological stripes.

Few protests have the potential to go global like those in Hong Kong. The latter have attracted global attention due to the large number of people from Hong Kong and mainland China studying abroad, the high level of foreign investment in Hong Kong, and the centrality of Hong Kong to China’s flagging economy.

Hong Kong students abroad have organised numerous protests, sit-ins, and rallies to raise awareness and demonstrate solidarity with the pro-democracy protests. They give lectures, flood social media with messages of support and erect “Lennon Walls”. They also attend basketball games in the United States, wearing masks and T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Stand with Hong Kong” and holding placards in support of the protests, human rights and democratic freedom more generally.

National Basketball Association games became a focal point of protest because of the backlash Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, received for tweeting a message in support of the protesters.

These events, like those in Hong Kong, have turned violent at times. Pro-China activists, seeking to disrupt the Hong Kong student events, have vandalised Lennon Walls, shouted slogans and exchanged punches with Hong Kong supporters. While Chinese diplomatic missions abroad have lauded the Chinese activists, universities where these confrontations have taken place have pledged their support for freedom of speech, and urged open, non-violent debate.