Why International Students DO Have the Right to Protest
I’m sure students across Hong Kong have heard about the Occupy Hong Kong movement in some capacity by this point. It’s practically unavoidable- many of us live in the vicinity of the areas in which the protests are happening in, and those that don’t can feel the presence of the movement everywhere- yellow ribbons are found almost everywhere, and it has been constantly discussed. Whether you are in the heart of Admiralty or all the way out in the New Territories, Occupy Hong Kong is at the forefront of many people’s minds.
As more and more students join the protests, a question is raised: should ‘international students’, who will one day leave Hong Kong- who have a home outside of Hong Kong, have the right to protest for universal suffrage? Here’s my answer: yes. Definitely.
Firstly, as much as this is a Hong Kong centric issue, it also has world wide implications. This is a movement that will have reverberations across the world for places still fighting for democracy and universal suffrage, regardless of the end result. It is no longer a movement just for the rights of Hong Kong citizens, but a larger movement for the spread of democracy and universal suffrage. As global citizens, ‘international students’ have the right- and perhaps even the responsibility- to be concerned about this issue. They have the right to raise their voices about this issue, through the methods they choose, even if it is protesting.
International students have also been a huge method of support in terms of reaching a global audience. Through social media, it is through these ‘international’ members of society that the news has reached so widely, towards so many people. Local protestors in Hong Kong have made it clear that any support, whether it be local or global, is welcome, and ultimately, that is what should matter. The support that ‘international students’ give is welcome- which should be reason enough to show why they have the right to participate in the protests as well.
Not only that, but here’s something that is often forgotten when we consider reasons why these students should not have a right to protest: Hong Kong is their home, too. It may only be a temporary one, but there will still be connections made that will last a lifetime. From this point of view, international students have a right to be concerned about the future of Hong Kong, and if joining the protest is a way of expressing that, it is completely within their rights and concerns.
Furthermore, even if Hong Kong isn’t a ‘home’ as such, international students will still undoubtedly have relations with people who do call it home- and will be heavily influenced by it in the future. Taking that into considering, if these ‘international students’ want to aid their friends or colleagues in their beliefs, they should have the right to. Regardless of whether it will directly impact them in whether they will have universal suffrage, it can be a form of support in terms of standing in solidarity with friends or acquaintances seeking universal suffrage- which is and should be completely within their right to do.
Finally, here’s the blatant truth: the movement needs the help of as many people as possible, regardless of who they are. The amount of protestors out there are constantly swelling and decreasing throughout the day, and the more people there are, the stronger the movement is. This is a literal number game: the more protestors they are, the harder it is for the government to ignore the issue. International students have a right to join the protest if they believe that it is right, and by doing so, they contribute to the power the movement has.
To those considering joining the protest: you have a right to. Regardless of where you come from, and where you will one day go, if you believe that it is right, you have a right to. However, I urge all of you to educate yourself before forming a stance- blindly joining the protest eradicates the point. Above all, remain safe, and let us all hope that the gravity of the Occupy Central movement will lead to some levels of change.
By Hayley Wu
