Demonstrations

Student Demonstrations

I frequented the student demonstrations ... not because I supported or opposed their cause (I rarely understood what they were marching about), but because it provided a unique photo opportunity that someone in the States rarely encounters. What was perhaps most interesting was that these all appeared to be choreographed, like there was some unwritten script for both sides to play off of. The students would begin to congregate near one of their universities, bringing flags and banners that represented their "circles" (interest clubs), their classes or their universities, as well as banners proclaiming their grievance. They often included small musical troupes to accompany the march to the demonstrations site. The police would be waiting for the students at a certain intersection, and then the ballet would begin.

The vanguard students would unwrap their parcels, which contained steel rods, about three feet in length. Then they would begin walking or running towards the front line of the riot police, the dragging sticks shooting sparks as they bounced along the concrete road. Just before they ran into the police line, the students would stop, and then back up. It was like some kind of game of Chicken. Whoever blinked first lost.

Eventually, one side or the other would break, and the police would start marching forward and the students would begin throwing stones. The police would fire tear gas and as some of the students dispersed (only to regroup a few blocks away) the others would continue challenging the police with their sticks and rocks. Sometimes there would be direct clashes between the baton-wielding police and the students.

After this played out several times in different areas of the city, the students would fade away back to their universities or homes or congregate in the coffee shops, teargas still wafting in the wind.
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I was primarily in the police line for this particular demonstration, you can see the cloud of tear gas in the distance. For the most part, all the shops along the demonstration route would close to avoid getting tear gassed, having stray rocks come crashing through their windows or give sanctuary to the students.

After the demonstration passes, the streets are quiet for a little while as the tear gas settles. The white spots are where the tear gas canisters landed. There are also rocks still in the street.

There are two main kinds of "armor" for the riot police. These guys are are sporting the denim outfits with the converted motorcycle helmets.
These guys have the cooler "Darth Vader" type body armor -- actually its more like padding, but they are much more evil looking. The gun in the one guy's hand is for firing the tear gas canisters.

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I was primarily in the police line for this particular demonstration, you can see the cloud of tear gas in the distance.	For the most part, all the shops along the demonstration route would close to avoid getting tear gassed, having stray rocks come crashing through their windows or give sanctuary to the students.
	After the demonstration passes, the streets are quiet for a little while as the tear gas settles. The white spots are where the tear gas canisters landed. There are also rocks still in the street.
There are two main kinds of "armor" for the riot police. These guys are are sporting the denim outfits with the converted motorcycle helmets.	These guys have the cooler "Darth Vader" type body armor -- actually its more like padding, but they are much more evil looking. The gun in the one guy's hand is for firing the tear gas canisters.