Hong Kong's "Umbrella Revolution"
A demonstrator is taken away by police officers in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
Hong Kong authorities started clearing the main pro-democracy protest site, that has choked the Chinese-controlled city for more than two months, to stamp out street demonstrations for free elections.
Hong Kong
Police officers dismantle barricades outside Hong Kong's Government complex on December 11, 2014.
After more than two months and drawing crowds of over 100,000 the main Admiralty pro-democracy protest site is cleared away by police after a court injunction paved the way for officials to clear three parts of the site. Police aim to clear the remaining areas, unblocking roads and returning Hong Kong's Central Business District to normal operations.
Hong Kong
Police line the road as workers clear an area previously occupied by pro-democracy protesters near government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec.11, 2014.
Hong Kong
A demonstrator kneels after she was blocked by a police cordon at an area previously occupied by pro-democracy activists outside government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
Hong Kong
Police confront pro-democracy protesters who refused to leave their encampment outside government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
Hong Kong
Singer and actress Denise Ho is taken away by policewomen from an area previously occupied by pro-democracy supporters outside government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
Police dragged out the last remaining demonstrators one by one and by evening had cleared out all of them.
Hong Kong
Police remove a sofa from the pro-democracy encampment near government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014. Tyrone Siu/Reuters
Hong Kong
Workers remove a banner at an area occupied by pro-democracy protesters near the People's Liberation Army (PLA) headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
The main protest site was taken apart piece by piece to clear the area.
Hong Kong
Workers remove barricades at an area occupied by pro-democracy protesters near the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
Hong Kong
Workers clearing the main pro-democracy site hold an umbrella, symbolic of the "Umbrella Movement" as the pro-democracy protests came to be known, in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
Hong Kong
A man walks past a message written on an overpass by pro-democracy protesters in the Central district in Hong Kong, Dec. 10, 2014.
Hong Kong
An anti-occupancy activist (C) flashes a victory sign at pro-democracy protesters near government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.
Hong Kong authorities cleared the main pro-democracy protest site, that has choked the Chinese-controlled city for more than two months, to stamp out street demonstrations for free elections.
Hong Kong
Tents set up by pro-democracy protesters line the roads at an Occupy Central protest site in Hong Kong, Dec. 10, 2014.
Bands of determined protesters and hundreds of wet tents pitched near Hong Kong government headquarters were all that remained on Wednesday of months' long pro-democracy protests in the final hours before police clear the main protest site.
Hong Kong
Pro-democracy protesters attend a rally outside the government headquarters at Admiralty in Hong Kong, Dec. 10, 2014.
Hong Kong urged pro-democracy protesters to pack up their tents and leave their main camp near government headquarters, saying it couldn't promise there would be no "confrontations" when the site is cleared on Thursday.
Hong Kong
David Wong, a 41-year-old cellist, performs in front of a wall posted with messages of support for pro-democracy protesters at Admiralty district, Dec. 9, 2014.
Hong Kong
Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man, Reverend Chu yiu-ming (L-R), the three co-founders of Occupy Central, surrender to police Dec. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong for their role in democracy protests the government deemed illegal. The three were not charged and later left the police station.
Hong Kong
Reverend Chu yiu-ming, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Shiu Ka Chun (L-R), the three co-founders of Occupy Central, surrender to police Dec. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong. A police statement said that those who surrendered for the offense of taking part in an unauthorized assembly "were explicitly told...that illegal occupation of public places was an unlawful and and they should stop such act immediately."
Hong Kong
Chan Kin-man (R), one of the original pro-democracy Occupy Central founders, hugs a supporter after surrendering to police Dec. 3, 2014 in Hong Kong. Student protestors are continuing to occupy two protest sites after a violent night of clashes with policer earlier this week.
Hong Kong
Anti-Occupy Central protesters carry caricatures of (L-R) student leader Joshua Wong, law professor at the University of Hong Kong Benny Tai, tycoon and Apple Daily newspaper owner Jimmy Lai, professor of sociology at Chinese University Chan Kin-man and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, outside the Central Police Station before Tai, Chan and Chu voluntarily surrendered themselves to police in Hong Kong Dec. 3, 2014.
Hong Kong
A pro-democracy protester blocks a riot policeman during a clash outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 1, 2014. Hong Kong police baton-charged and pepper-sprayed thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in the early hours of Monday who were trying to encircle government headquarters, defying orders to retreat after more than two months of protests.
Hong Kong
A protester is arrested by police officers outside government headquarters in Hong Kong Dec. 1, 2014.
Hong Kong
Police officers beat up protesters as they try to disperse them outside government headquarters in Hong Kong Dec. 1, 2014.
Hong Kong
A pro-democracy protester lifts barricade reinforcements up onto an escalator near the government headquarters in Hong Kong's Admiralty district, Dec. 1,2014.
Hong Kong
Police use pepper spray during clashes with pro-democracy protesters close to the chief executive office in Hong Kong, Nov. 30, 2014.
Student activist groups have called for an escalation of the protests in Admiralty. Thousands of police on standby, according to the South China Morning Post.
Hong Kong
A protester lies on the stairway as police try to remove him and others from a tube station near government headquarters in Hong Kong Dec. 1, 2014.
Hong Kong
Police shout towards pro-democracy protesters during clashes as they attempt to clear a road in the the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Oct. 18, 2014.
Hong Kong
A Hong Kong police officer looks into the camera lens of a man recording police movements after barricades of Occupy Central protesters were dismantled in the Mong Kok District of Hong Kong, China, Oct. 17, 2014.
Hong Kong
A man is detained by police during pro-democracy protests in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Oct. 17, 2014.
Hong Kong
Protesters are pepper sprayed by riot police during a confrontation at Mongkok shopping district in Hong Kong, Oct. 17, 2014.
Hong Kong
A police officer tries to stop a man who is removing the metal barricades that protesters have set up to block off main roads near the heart of the city's financial district. Hong Kong, Oct. 13, 2014.
Hong Kong
Policemen confront pro-democracy protesters during an attempt to remove them from a street in the Mongkok shopping district of Hong Kong, Oct. 17, 2014.
Hong Kong
A protester sits under an umbrella as he attends a rally along a main street at Hong Kong's shopping district, Oct. 1, 2014.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters thronged the streets of Hong Kong on Wednesday, ratcheting up pressure on the pro-Beijing government that has called the action illegal, with both sides marking uneasy National Day celebrations.
Hong Kong
Pro-democracy demonstrators sit on a street outside Hong Kong's government offices on the fourth day of the mass civil disobedience campaign, Oct. 1, 2014.
Hong Kong
Paul Zimmerman, a district counselor, raises a yellow umbrella as Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (5th R) and other officials make a toast to guests at a reception following a flag raising ceremony in Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2014, celebrating the 65th anniversary of China National Day.
As tensions subsided, weary protesters dozed or sheltered from the sun beneath umbrellas, which have become a symbol of what some are calling the "umbrella revolution."
Hong Kong
Pro-democracy demonstrators gather outside Hong Kong's government offices on the fourth day of the mass civil disobedience campaign, Oct. 1, 2014.
Hong Kong
A protester covers her mouth with tape that says "democracy," in Hong Kong, Sept. 30, 2014.
Thousands of pro-democracy supporters continue to occupy the streets surrounding Hong Kong's financial district.
Read more: Hong Kong protesters play chicken with China
Hong Kong
Protesters take part in a rally on a street outside of a Hong Kong government complex, Sept. 30, 2014.
Hong Kong
Protesters sing songs and wave their cell phones in the air after a massive thunderstorm passed over outside the Hong Kong Government Complex, Sept. 30, 2014 .
Hong Kong
A man walks by a barricade of metal fencing and umbrellas in Hong Kong's financial district, Sept. 30, 2014.
Hong Kong
Protesters stand on a bridge as they block the main street to the financial district outside of the government headquarters building in Hong Kong, Sept. 30, 2014.
Hong Kong
Umbrellas used by protesters in Hong Kong, Sept. 30, 2014.
As tensions subsided, weary protesters dozed or sheltered from the sun beneath umbrellas, which have become a symbol of what some are calling the "umbrella revolution."
Hong Kong
A protester raises his arms as police officers try to disperse the crowd near the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014.
Hong Kong
Riot police stand guard outside of a government building in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.
Pro-democracy protesters wearing masks and wielding umbrellas to protect against pepper spray and tear gas expanded their rallies throughout Hong Kong on Monday, defying calls to disperse in a major pushback against Beijing's decision to limit democratic reforms in the Asian financial hub.
Read more: Anger and tear gas fill Hong Kong streets
Hong Kong
A protester blocks the main street to the financial district, outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014.
Hong Kong
A Chinese national flag is seen hoisted upside down between a Hong Kong flag (L) and a red flag bearing the company logo of Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (R) outside a commercial tower in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014.
Hong Kong
Demonstrators disperse as tear gas is fired by police during a protest in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.
Hong Kong
Protesters clash with riot police in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.
Hong Kong
Protesters clash with riot police in Hong Kong, Sept. 27, 2014.
Hong Kong
Traffic stands still as tens of thousands of protesters jam the main street leading to the financial district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.
Hong Kong
Riot police walk in between tear gas to disperse protesters after thousands of protesters blocked the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.
Hong Kong
Riot police fire tear gas to disperse protesters after thousands of demonstrators blocked the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014.
Hong Kong
A protester throws an umbrella at riot police as fellow demonstrators blocked the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014.
Hong Kong
Riot police fire tear gas to disperse protesters, after thousands of protesters blocked the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.
Hong Kong
Police officers stand guard outside a government complex in Hong Kong, Sept. 27, 2014.
Hong Kong
A protester (C) raises his umbrellas in front of tear gas which was fired by riot police to disperse protesters blocking the main street to the financial district outside in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.
Hong Kong
A protester receives help after being pepper sprayed during a confrontation with the police, following a rally in Hong Kong, Sept. 27, 2014. Pro-democracy students stormed Hong Kong government headquarters and scuffled with police late on Friday in protest against the Chinese government's tightening grip on the former British colony.
Hong Kong
A man raise his hands outside of a government complex in Hong Kong, Sept. 27, 2014.
Hong Kong
A protester is taken away by policewomen after storming into the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 27, 2014.
Hong Kong
Protesters hide behind umbrellas outside of a government complex in Hong Kong, Sept. 27, 2014.
Hong Kong
Performers dance at a pro-China event celebrating the upcoming Chinese National Day, held beside a student rally demanding true democracy, in Hong Kong, Sept. 26, 2014.