Vancouverites Protest Extradition

Hundreds of people on Granville Street in front of the Chinese consulate

Early this afternoon there was quite a sight along Granville Street in Vancouver between Angus Drive and Marpole Avenue -- several hundred people wearing black T-shirts and carrying yellow umbrellas stood in front (or as close as they could get) of the Chinese consulate.

Although earlier this morning Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made an announcement saying the controversial extradition bill would be postponed until a later date, Vancouver media say some 1,500 people still came out to voice their protest.

They were also condemned the Hong Kong police's use of excessive force against the protesters on June 12 at Tamar in Admiralty.

As they gathered on the narrow sidewalk along the very busy thoroughfare, the protesters sang, "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from Les Miserables and some cars honked their horns in support as they drove by.

They protested the extradition bill and excessive police force

The protesters in Vancouver say the extradition bill should be withdrawn.

"Even though she came out to announce she will defer on this bill, we can see this evil bill will be sitting there and waiting for (an) opportunity to suppress Hong Kong, to threaten Hong Kong people," said Ken Tung, of the Civic Education Society in Vancouver who gave a speech to the crowd.

"Right now we have some people wounded by the excessive police force. These people were arrested in the hospital, totally against the freedom of speech and assembly in Hong Kong. We are here to protest."

Natalie Woo also expressed her concerns about how the Hong Kong police reacted to the protesters on June 12.

"Our police forces have been eroding for the past couple of years, in the sense that they have been acting very violently against protesters. We're not satisfied with Carrie Lam's answer to suspend the bill, because we don't trust the government enough to act in good faith."

Woo says rallying in Vancouver sends a message to the Chinese government and people of Hong Kong that there is a global solidarity for those who protest the bill and violence.

Pretty impressive turnout this afternoon and people will be out in force later today in Hong Kong for yet another march, this time calling for Lam to step down.