INCREDIBLE: Hong Kong Protesters Embrace Unexpected Christian Anthem
A hymn sung by Christian groups participating in the anti-extradition Hong Kong protests has caught on and become an unlikely anthem for the movement of millions in the streets.
For the past week, “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord” has been heard almost non-stop at the main protest site in front of the city’s Legislative Council, and at marches and tense stand-offs with police, Reuters reported.
Although only 10 percent of the population is Christian, church groups quickly rallied after being alarmed by reports of police brutality to make a safe haven for protesters as the government said it had to crack down on “organized riots.” . . .
Touching scene in the protest: people were singing “sing hallelujah to the lord”. How come this is a “riot”?#NoExtraditionToChina pic.twitter.com/RxBZ1qJ4zo
— Nathan Law 羅冠聰 (@nathanlawkc) June 13, 2019
“As religious assemblies were exempt, it could protect the protesters. It also shows that it is a peaceful protest,” Edwin Chow, 19, acting president of the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students, told Reuters. “This was the one people picked up, as it is easy for people to follow, with a simple message and easy melody.”
The simple hymn heard around Hong Kong was composed by Linda Stassen-Benjamin in the United States in 1974 for Easter.
A group of Christians and youngsters have gathered on a footbridge outside #HK gov HQ, facing dozens of police behind barricades. Some of them singing "Sing hallelujah to the lord". Placards read "Stop shooting HK student. Stop treating HK citizens violently."#ExtraditionBill pic.twitter.com/2MWcrQIhbu
— Shirley Zhao (@shirleyZhaoXY) June 13, 2019
BEST #extradition protest poster: "Stop Using Baton Or We Sing Hallelujah To The Lord"
Photo by my colleague @jamespomfret @Reuters pic.twitter.com/zhUIY3Iuft
— SJ (@SijiaJ) June 16, 2019
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