On Monday, the anniversary of Britain’s handover of Hong Kong to China, huge numbers of pro-democracy protesters marched peacefully through the city. Late in the day, a large group of demonstrators from the mostly leaderless movement broke off and faced off against riot police at Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building. Eventually, they smashed their way into the building and swarmed inside, damaging fixtures and equipment, tearing down portraits, spray-painting slogans and graffiti, and occupying the building for a short time. Police eventually responded with force, and protesters vacated the building. The development is a new chapter in the history of Hong Kong protesters’ defiance toward China, and authorities in Beijing wasted no time in condemning the “serious illegal acts” that they said might lead to a breakdown in the social order. See also previous recent coverage: “Photos: Hong Kong Protesters Return to the Streets,” and “Why These Hong Kong Protests Are Different” by Timothy McLaughlin.
Photos: Hong Kong Protesters Break Into Legislative Council Building
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Read moreProtesters use a recycling bin to break the glass inside the Legislative Council building while protesting the extradition bill in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreAnti-extradition protesters use makeshift shields to defend themselves during a clash with police outside the Legislative Council Complex, ahead of the annual flag-raising ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China, on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreA police officer uses pepper spray during a clash with anti-extradition protesters outside the Legislative Council Complex on July 1, 2019. #
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Read morePolice officers use batons to disperse anti-extradition protesters outside the Legislative Council Complex on July 1, 2019. #
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Read morePolice try to disperse protesters near a flag-raising ceremony in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters try to break into the Legislative Council building where riot police are seen inside, on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreA protester gestures as he and others try to break into the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters try to push a metal cart through a closed entrance at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters smash glass doors and windows to break into the parliament chamber of the Legislative Council Complex on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreA protester crawls through a broken window into the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters gather outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters hold up a metal shutter as they break into the Legislative Council Complex on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreA protester passes an umbrella inside Hong Kong's Legislative Council Complex on July 2, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters walk around inside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, after breaking in on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters break into the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters walk inside the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters gather inside the meeting hall of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on July 1, 2019, after taking over the building. #
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Read moreA protester steps on a damaged portrait of a former legislative leader on the ground inside the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters gather inside a chamber after they broke into the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters deface the Hong Kong logo in the Legislative Council building to protest the extradition bill on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreAnti-extradition-bill protesters walk inside a security room after demonstrators stormed the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreGraffiti left by protesters covers walls inside the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019. #
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Read moreProtesters try to drag out a fellow protester, who wanted to stay and fight the police, from the meeting hall of the Legislative Council during the early hours of July 2, 2019. #
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Read moreA protester pours water into the eyes of a fellow protester after police released tear gas to clear them from the Legislative Council building in the early hours of July 2, 2019. #
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Read moreRiot police work to clear the streets outside the Legislative Council building after protesters stormed the building on July 2, 2019. #
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Read morePolice fire tear gas at protesters near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on July 2, 2019. #
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Read moreRiot police patrol inside Hong Kong's Legislative Council building in search of protesters after it was briefly taken over by demonstrators during a protest on July 2, 2019. #
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Read moreRiot police take up positions outside the Legislative Council building after protesters stormed the building on July 2, 2019. #
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Read morePolice officers stand in front of graffiti on the walls of the Legislative Council building, a day after protesters broke into the building, on July 2, 2019. #
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Read moreUmbrellas and posters are seen, left outside the Legislative Council, a day after protesters broke into the building in Hong Kong, on July 2, 2019. #
Jorge Silva / Reuters
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