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HONG KONG, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The government of Hong Kong is actively breaking up pro-democracy protests outside of state buildings in the Mong Kok district, as once-peaceful protests have escalated into vandalism and clashes with the police. Early Wednesday morning, masked protesters attacked Hong Kong's government headquarters, using concrete blocks and metal barricades to smash through a glass door before being restrained. At least six people were arrested.
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Supporters of Chinese democracy have condemned the attacks, saying they taint what has been an otherwise peaceful movement.
"I threw myself in front of them, I told them this would only hurt the movement, that this whole campaign is about demanding genuine democracy which has nothing to do with breaking into Legislative Council," pro-democracy legislator Fernando Cheung told CNN.
"It's a blow to the whole movement, making our path forward more difficult," he echoed to the New York Times.
"In the past 53 days of the movement, it has been extremely peaceful, and Hong Kong people are proud of that."
