Head of the march is arriving at the point where it walks past Hong Kong police headquarters. 
All generations are represented here today
After six months of marching, nearly 6000 arrested, millions who have given up a weekend to peacefully protest, and an electoral landslide, still not a single resignation or meaningful concession from the government
Just outside police HQ, Filipina santa hat karaoke party competes with protest chants from the million person march passing by
We have found out provisional winner for "most geared up journalist" in this majestic drone temple pilot. But I must stress polls remain open
Lennon quilt and recorder bro playing Glory to Hong Kong
Domestic workers on the overpass are doing a karaoke version of Hillary Clinton's "Fight Song" and I'm feeling one of those political emotions so complicated they only have a German word for it
Strong Xmas energy at Central. But again, a crowd of domestic workers and another of protesters, and they're mutually invisible to each other. It's so creepy
Like, you know you're going to be marching fairly disruptively through the place your live-in maid goes on her day off. Why not bring her and her fellow workers a small gift? Or carry a banner in Tagalog? Anything?
Water cannon is waiting at Des Voeux road in central, along with kids in gear and lots of press. But both sides are likely to wait for regular marchers to disperse
Past the march endpoint, lots of people are putting on raincoats (to defend against the water cannon) and tear gas masks. Most are going home, as exhorted to by organizers by megaphone
Three views from the same spot, just in different directions. Water cannon in Des Voeux road, frontliners gearing up,and busy night market
This is the end of the march route. The truck belongs to the organizers and is encouraging people to go home. Beyond is a staging area for those who elect to stay. Hoping police will chill while the march route is still packed
What a frontliner sees in Hong Kong
Check out this absolute unit of a French journalist. He is our winner for tonight
I respect the foreign press a lot less since most of them ran away from PolyU. But I really respect the ones who stayed
As at every protest, there are Hong Kong wheelchair users in the press pool and I respect them most of all
Police, demonstrators and press all kind of waiting around so they can start fighting (and earning Pulitzers) when the bulk of peaceful demonstrators are out of central. It's a weird situation
This bad boy is an amphibious armored Mercedes, perfect for all-weather operations in the central business district of Asia's financial capital. Photo taken from door of a diner that is all out of fucks
Cops being super aggro with the press right now. Lots of gun pointing (non-lethal guns) and yelling
Police are easily letting themselves get provoked by telling from the crowd. When they chase the yeller, journalists swarm, which provokes a follow-on freakout. No pepper spray used so far but it's brandished
Pepe is here
Now there is an elaborate recessional of frontliners taking place towards central away from the cops. A batallion of armored press is in slow pursuit
If CHRF can pull off a miracle tonight and get frontliners to just go home I will be amazed. They did it on August 18; it may be happening again now. Only press and bystanders are left on Des Voeux past the CHRF van
Blue flag is up on Pedder St., just a block from the van trying to keep the peace. I think frontliners believe they're protecting departing peaceful protesters by forming up here
Police here are fairly chill, letting demonstrators just arriving at the terminus disperse. A festive five demands poster is the reason for the season
It's pretty calm in central, and basically up to the police if they want to make it a fight. Hong Kong frontliners see their role as protective so they will not leave before everyone leaves, but if the police don't lose their shit everyone may just go home
CHRF organizers are doing a stellar job defusing tension at the terminus. It's not easy getting a leaderless movement to agree to go home, but there's lots of respect for the peaceful marchers
Lots of people changing out of frontliner gear into street clothes, always a good sign
Interesting that all the sharpest clashes I saw on Des Voeux rd tonight were between police and the press. Presence of blue jacketed media liaisons, who usually mediate, didn't help.
People are putting down their umbrellas and hitting the tea stands. CHRF has proved it can consistently pull off peaceful gigantic marches. So why were so many permits refused?
The remains of the Pedder St barricade. Fewer than 20 cops are left here
Subverting the tools of late capitalism to build revolutionary consciousness!
