In choosing the TIME person of the year, TIME created a reader poll to determine: “Which person or person/s had the greatest impact on the world for better or worse this year?” Although 96% of readers chose the Hong Kong protestors, Greta Thunberg, who placed fifth, received the cover.
China has an agreement with Hong Kong since 1997 called the, “one country two systems arrangement” which allows the people of Hong Kong to have limited democracy and freedom from China’s absolute law. Six months ago, China’s president passed the Hong Kong Extradition Bill, eliminating the agreement and forcefully taking complete control over Hong Kong with brutal Police Force. The response has been astounding from all over the world, the US legislature passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Taiwan has pledged to help the Hong Kong protestors by protecting Hong Kong democracy campaigners from China’s wrath. The United Nations Human Rights Office openly admonished China for its treatment of protestors but to no avail.
Due to violations of basic human rights, citizens have increasingly participated in greater protests which occur in a variety of different public spaces. The protests have experienced a shift towards violence resulting in conflicts between police and protestors. This violence has prompted security officials to threaten the use of live ammunition against the protesters exacerbating the tension between the citizens and the state and generated more support on behalf of the protesters.
Yes, Hong Kong protesters earned the title of Time’s Person of the Year by vote; however, their unmatched global and political impact and their unwavering will to fight against injustice justify their right to the award. While Greta Thunberg represents a pressing issue, the issue is not necessarily a novel one – the question that remains on everyone’s mind is what exactly separates Greta from other climate change activists. Ultimately, her activism has not impacted the world as much as the Hong Kong protestors have, and America agrees.
