7:35 a.m. ET, August 31, 2019
Here's what happened today
ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/Getty Images
Hong Kong's thirteenth consecutive weekend of protests devolved into violence as the sun began to go down. Here's what happened earlier:
Wildcat protests replace canceled march: A major rally planned by the Civil Human Rights Front, which organized previous large-scale marches, was denied permission by police. People instead took to the streets for smaller wildcat marches in multiple areas.
Petrol bombs thrown at police: Protesters who gathered in Wan Chai near police headquarters threw water balloons filled with paint and petrol bombs onto the building.
Police fire tear gas and water cannon: Outside the main government offices on Harcourt Road and Tim Wa Avenue, where a large crowd of protesters had blocked the road, police fired tear gas and a water cannon to clear them. Protesters responded with petrol bombs and bricks but eventually scattered.
Blue dye used: For the first time, police fired blue dye from water cannon trucks. Such dye often stains clothes and skin, potentially marking protesters for identification later.