Occupy Central: 21st Century

Social Movement

Last week marked the beginning of a civil disobedience movement in

Hong Kong. The movement stemmed from the want for universal
suffrage for elections in 2017 and 2020. Beijing and Hong Kong
governments do not currently hold a democratic system for voting
for elected officials. Essentially, the government chooses the officials
that civilians can vote for. This movement is being called Occupy
Central because the plan was originally to occupy the Central
Business District. This social movement is unlike other protests,
according to Vice News, in an article published this week. Is Occupy
China a social movement or simply random act of protest from a
political party? Local celebrities in Hong Kong have weighed in on
these protests and how they feel about what s going on. Most are
rooting for the protestors as I will explain further in detail, taken
from this article.
This leads us to ask the next question: how can we tell what a social
movement is? In identifying a social movement, its important to
keep a working definition that outlines the essential characteristics
without being too restrictive, and also distinguishing it from random
acts of protest. According to Stewart, Smith and Denton, a social
movement has many components. The movement must first be an
organized collectivity. If leaders, spokespersons, followers or
members cannot be identified, it is most likely not a social movement.
Occupy China was initiated by Benny Tai Yiu-ting, an associate
professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. Yiu-ting began this
protest by publishing an article in the Hong Kong Economic Journal
proposing an act of civil disobedience carried out in the Central to

put public pressure on the government if their universal suffrage

overture turned out to be fake democracy. Social Movements are
also large in scope and thousands of protestors have been blocking
roads, and refusing to disperse. People from other nations have even
gathered in New Yorks Time Square as a sign of solidarity for the
people of Hong Kong. This protest is shaping to be an organized
movement thus far, which the thousands of people all working
towards universal suffrage.
Multiple local celebrities have begun speaking out in Hong Kong,
and reacting to the events of Occupy Central. Popular actor Andy
Lau posted a messaged saying Stay safe Hong Kong on his
website Andy World Club. He encouraged protestors to fight for
their beliefs, and to not be emotionally affected by the violence,
but also to care for their own safety. Actress Anita Yuen Wing-yee
even spoke publicly at an event this week saying I find you cant
use power to suppress and expressed her disappointment in the
incidents happening because she doesnt understand why the
government isnt listening. Several other singers and actors spoke
out as well expressing their hopes for a peaceful situation and their
disappointment in their government. These celebrities used their
roles as public figures to help persuade their government, as well
as citizens to keep marching on.
Social movements challenge our norms and values, and often work
towards the values of equality, fairness, and justice. The people of
Hong Kong are protesting democracy and the promise of universal
suffrage. This movement is similar to movements such as the Civil
Rights Movement because of the societal values being fought for.
Social movements challenge our conventional wisdom and make us
rethink societal norms. Tying into this, social movements assume the
power to distinguish right from wrong. In this case, a democratic
system of voting is fair and just. Persuasion is key in this movement
for Hong Kongs government to take a serious look at what is going
on, and for changed to be spurred. Persuasion is a defining feature
in any social movement, and hopefully the people of Hong Kong
can persist to keep working towards what they want as citizens.

While we have yet to see the outcome of what I think we could

undoubtedly call a social movement, Occupy Central is proving to be
a powerful social movement that could result with serious change for
the people of Hong Kong.