TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As many as 80,000 pro-democracy protesters flooded the streets in Hong Kong to demand full democracy from the Chinese government in directly electing Hong Kong leaders.

As reported by BBC today, the protest began on Friday night, September 26, and clashes erupted between the protesters and security forces who tried to disperse them. Up until Monday, the clashes still continue.

Many elements of the society in Hong Kong participated in the protest, starting from prominent politicians, students, to taxi drivers. “If today I don’t stand up, I will hate myself in future. Even if I get a criminal record it will be glorious one,” Edward Yeung, a taxi driver, told Reuters.

The police kept spraying the crowd with tear gas and pepper spray in order to dissolve them. However, it did not discourage the protesters to keep fighting for direct elections in Hong Kong and to be liberated by 2017.

The police have detained 78 protesters, including Joshua Wong, leader of student group. The 17-year-old was dragged by the police after he provoked the protesters to seize government building.

ANINGTIAS JATMIKA | BBC | REUTERS