Supporters gather outside Eastern Courts to support arrested anti-extradition bill protesters facing rioting charges, in Hong Kong, China. July 31, 2019.
This is the first time that the authorities in the financial hub have resorted to using the rioting charge, and it could infuriate activists who have been demanding that the government avoid using the term "riot" to refer to the demonstrations. "I'm not scared to protest. This whole thing today is just making me more angry," said Gartner, a 21-year-old protester outside the court who declined to give his full name.Nine of the defendants had been released on bail of $128 by noon. They were ordered to remain in Hong Kong and a curfew was imposed between midnight and 6am.
Hundreds of people surrounded a police station late on Tuesday chanting "free the martyrs" after the 44 activists were charged.