Hong Kong police held a press conference yesterday to discuss the anti-extradition bill protests that have been raging this week. Photojournalists showed up to the presser wearing helmets, gas masks, and safety vests in protest of the excessive force they say police have been using against them.
The large crowd of photographers wearing bright high-visibility jackets and protective gear at the peaceful indoor press conference made for an unusual sight.
“Photojournalists in full protective gears attend police chief’s presser in protest of police violent treatment against the press during their clash with protesters who demand withdrawal of china extradition bill,” writes EYEPRESS NEWS.
In what appears to be an act of protest, news photographers wear protective gear to Hong Kong Police press conference #HKprotests pic.twitter.com/JNsBjQTdNG
— Justin Solomon (@JSolomonHK) June 13, 2019
Journalists at the police press conference in Hong Kong wear riot safety gear, in an apparent protest against police heavy handedness when breaking up protests. @CNN @cnni pic.twitter.com/eosQ1vbuF1
— Simon Cullen (@Simon_Cullen) June 13, 2019
Some photographers are wearing helmets pic.twitter.com/TAGDHRQoBb
— Timmy Sung (@timmysung) June 13, 2019
Many reporters wore reflective jackets, helmets and gas masks in protest of police brutality against front line press during the Hong Kong police press conference just now. pic.twitter.com/tzC8imiA6k
— Richard Lai (@richardlai) June 13, 2019
Hong Kong Free Press reports that it was the Hong Kong Journalist Association that organized the protest.
The Hong Kong Journalist Association called on reporters to wear protective gear at a press conference with police chief Stephen Lo on Thursday to protest police’s treatment of journalists during clashes the day before.
? In full: https://t.co/kmLJLFCnSX #NoToExtradition pic.twitter.com/vOBl1pYySS
— Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) June 13, 2019
Photographers and other journalists say police used excessive force against the press while using tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes between police and protesters on June 12th.
