By: Melinda Taub
Ferguson vs. Hong Kong: Which Protest Is Right for You?

Thousands of Hong Kong residents have taken to the streets to protest the mainland Chinese Communist government imposing increasing control over their elections. In response to the protests, police have cracked down harshly using tear gas and rubber bullets. Meanwhile, protests in Ferguson, Missouri, are ongoing. Which protest should you join? We give you all the info to decide whether to hop on a plane to China or Missouri.
![]() Ferguson |
![]() Hong Kong |
|
---|---|---|
Name of Winston’s cat on New Girl? | ![]() |
Not as yet |
Reason for protests | Police slaying of teenager Mike Brown. | Mainland Communist government tightening control on Hong Kong. |
Hey police, you guys using tear gas? | Yes. | Yes. |
Rubber bullets? | Yes. | Yes. |
Tanks? | Yes. | No, we’re not animals. |
Rallying cry | “Hands up, don’t shoot.” | “Haih toh (resign), also, don’t shoot.” |
Probably more common cry | Ow, fuck. | Ow ow fuck stop it. |
Number of protesters | Hundreds, plus 1.5 million Tumblr posts. | Thousands, plus 1.5 million Tumblr posts you can’t see in China. |
Lies told by authorities | Police brutality? What police brutality? | Hong Kong? What Hong Kong? |
Are we still living in a democracy? | Nah man, it’s like we’re in China. | Nah man, it’s like we’re in Ferguson, Missouri. |
Weird place to be Asian? | Yes. | Nope. |
Weird place to be black? | Yes. | Yes. |
Roots of unrest date back to days as British colony? | Yes. | Yes. |
Are the police racist? | DON’T MAKE THIS ABOUT RACE! | Probably, some of them. |
Name of Winston’s cat on New Girl?
Ferguson:
Hong Kong: Not as yet.
Reason for protests
Ferguson:Police slaying of teenager Mike Brown.
Hong Kong: Mainland Communist government tightening control on Hong Kong.
Hey police, you guys using tear gas?
Ferguson: Yes.
Hong Kong: Yes.
Rubber bullets?
Ferguson: Yes.
Hong Kong: Yes.
Tanks?
Ferguson: Yes.
Hong Kong: No, we’re not animals.
Rallying cry
Ferguson: “Hands up, don’t shoot.”
Hong Kong: “Haih toh (resign), also don’t shoot.”
Probably more common cry
Ferguson: “Ow, fuck.”
Hong Kong: “Ow ow fuck stop it.”
Number of protesters
Ferguson: Hundreds, plus 1.5 million Tumblr posts.
Hong Kong: Thousands, plus 1.5 million Tumblr posts you can’t see in China.
Lies told by authorities
Ferguson: Police brutality? What police brutality?
Hong Kong: Hong Kong? What Hong Kong?
Are we still living in a democracy?
Ferguson: Nah man, it’s like we’re in China.
Hong Kong: Nah man, it’s like we’re in Ferguson, Missouri.
Weird place to be Asian?
Ferguson: Yes.
Hong Kong: Nope.
Weird place to be Black?
Ferguson: Yes.
Hong Kong: Yes.
Roots of unrest date back to days as British colony?
Ferguson: Yes.
Hong Kong: Yes.
Are the police racist?
Ferguson: DON’T MAKE THIS ABOUT RACE!
Hong Kong: Probably, some of them.