As the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong enter their third month, Peter Gabriel, Pussy Riot, Iron & Wine and more have hoisted umbrellas as part of a symbolic stand in unison with protestors. Stand By You 2.0 is a media art campaign that projects messages of support to protestors at downtown Hong Kong’s Lennon Wall, the center of the Occupy Movement.
30,000 messages from 70 countries have already been projected since the protests began on September 28th, but now encouragement is arriving from the music
“We want to show the faces of some of the people around the world who so admire what these young people are doing,” said Hunter Heaney, founder of human rights group The Voice Project, who have spearheaded Stand By You 2.0 alongside Stand By You: Add Oil Machine. “We wanted to show them that we still stand with them and to help counteract propaganda that they don’t have support out there.”
“Solidarity. Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand,” Pussy Riot wrote in their message to protestors, holding a sign that reads “Occupy Hong Kong.” Gabriel added, “Water gets everywhere – like the will of the people.” Celebrity chef Mario Batali also passed along the message, “Eat well and don’t take any crap.”
People are encouraged to send their own messages to protestors by using the hashtags #StandByYou and #UmbrellaRevolution on social media.
In October, saxophonist Kenny G was criticized by Chinese officials for simply visiting the site of the Hong Kong protests. “I think Kenny G’s music is popular in China, though regarding the illegal protest in Hong Kong, the Chinese government has a clear position. We think that is an illegal campaign,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at the time. “We hope all foreign countries and individuals could be discreet in words and deeds and not support the illegal protest in any forms.”
