Protesters Swell in the Streets of Hong Kong Calling for Leader to Resign - Tens of thousands of demonstrators poured into central Hong Kong as organizers remained defiant even after the city’s leader suspended consideration of the China-backed extradition plan that sparked some of the biggest protests in the city in decades.

Organizers pressed ahead with a march Sunday afternoon, following the same route as last week’s demonstration, when hundreds of thousands filed for hours through the center of the city. They are demanding that Chief Executive Carrie Lam resign and have vowed to continue taking to the streets until the bill is withdrawn.

Peaceful crowds dressed largely in black had filled Victoria Park around the 2:30 p.m. gathering time called by organizers, and began marching toward Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building. One sign read: “Help Hong Kong. R.I.P.” Others chanted one word: “Retract.” Many carried umbrellas, which have been used as protection from pepper spray fired by police in past protests. Marchers in black also walked toward the police headquarters in Admiralty, ground zero for clashes earlier this week between demonstrators and police.

“Our demands are clear and firm,” Jimmy Sham, one of the main protest leaders, said as he addressed the crowd. Among his calls were for the bill’s withdrawal, the retraction of Lam’s characterization of protesters as rioters, and her resignation.

Opposition politician Claudia Mo, who’s been outspoken throughout the extradition standoff and attended Sunday’s protest, called the suspension “just a postponement.”

“The plan is just being delayed. It’s not the matter of what, it’s a matter of when. So I am coming out,” she said.
Hong Kong Protest March Route

Lam referred to the protesters as rioters after a Wednesday demonstration sparked clashes with authorities that left more than 80 people hurt. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and batons to dispel protesters trying to enter the main legislative building.

Lam’s decision to suspend the bill was a stunning climb-down on her government’s legislative centerpiece, which was backed by authorities in Beijing. The measure would let Hong Kong extradite fugitives facing jail sentences of more than seven years to mainland China, Macau and Taiwan. Opponents fear the legislation would erode the legal wall separating the city’s justice system from the mainland and allow Beijing to target its political enemies.

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