That’s how the script read for months of unrest that gripped Hong Kong last year. In some instances, they clashed with police and federal security forces, leading to arrests. “‘It was about getting viral online content,’ one of the officials said.”Here, too, there are echoes of what transpired in Hong Kong. “Taking strong action on Hong Kong stoked mainland Chinese nationalism at a time of declining economic growth and rising domestic frustrations over public health and safety,” observed Ryan Hass of Brookings. But, as in Hong Kong, the heavy-handedness of security forces in U.S. cities has hardly calmed dissent.

Source: Washington Post July 27, 2020 03:56 UTC