Give Me (Lady) Liberty

24 May, 2026

On HK's Lady Liberty. 'Remastered' from threads over in the Bad Place written in Oct 2019 and various points in 2021. So, as usual, if it sounds a bit raw, it's because it it.

HK's Lady Liberty was borne out of a need to update our ideals for these revolting times. We trace the historical influences - June 4th plays a part - to understand exactly where HKers feel the pro-democracy movement fit within the overall struggle for freedom in China.

Lady Liberty, was - like all the best things of the HK pro-democracy protest - created by the people, for the people. There was no 'big-stage', after all. In other words, HKers took a vote on LIHKG - think of it as HK's version of reddit.

Here are some of the designs up for voting (apologies for the fuzzy pictures):

Here are more designs up for votes. Notice that the umbrella, hard hat and respirator were non-negotiable in these designs. The only real design question is 'which looks cooler' and which, when you think about it, is indeed very important when it comes to protest iconography.

This one's a fun out-of-the-box design. I think it was taking inspiration from the very terrifying Umbrella Man that was erected in 2014 during the Umbrella Movement... But once again - umbrella, hard hat and respirator. Just cubist.

Many of the proposed designs for Lady Liberty also feature a flag. It's a homage to Eugène Delacroix's 'La Liberté guidant le peuple', where Marianne leads holding the revolutionary flag up high. By August, HKers have a revolutionary flag. We just needed our own Marianne.

The Marianne isn’t the only inspiration for HK's Lady Liberty though. The more important reference is the Goddess of Democracy, a pillar - physical and spiritual - of the 1989 student protest movement.

The Goddess of Democracy was erected in Tiananmen Square end of May 1989 by students of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, influenced more by Soviet realism than the US Statue of Liberty.

She stood only 5 days, before ... well.

The tanks rolled in. Democracy was crushed.

But while the government may topple a statue, they can’t extinguish the flame. HKers took the torch and erected our own Goddess, who stood watch over every annual June 4 vigil that used to (sigh) take place in the city, patient & hopeful for her country.

The Goddess of Democracy - let's call her Demi, because it's a mouthful - was a symbol for the HK protests up until July 2019. To prepare her for these modern times, HKers gave her a hardhat, a respirator, an umbrella and an attitude. Artist Ah-To shows her defiantly saying "I’d rather be a freedom c*nt than be cowed by tyranny!’"

We liked Goddess Demi's New Look. But Tyranny was not pleased. A Chinese student destroyed the statue at City University in late July 2019. Her shattered remains held together by tape looked so out of place next to our Lennon Walls.

But also, it was incredibly petty. What was the point in vandalizing a statue? Does it really have that much power as a symbol of democracy? (Yes.)

Police brutality intensified in Aug 2019 - tear gas had become the norm and HKPF shot a street medic in the eye. Whatever ideals HKers had, legacies of failed dreams - we had to either let go, or update them for this different age. The Goddess had to gear up.

Lady Liberty - let's call her Libby - was born in August 2019. Crowdsourced design + crowdfunding = instant icon, although some assembly required.

A few design details of HK's Lady Liberty:

Libby's first aid kit and damaged goggles honour the street medic who got shot, but also, all our first aiders. Not sure how clear it's showing up here, but if you look carefully at this original statue's base, she is walking through a floor of fire and smoke with tear gas canisters strewn everywhere.

Libby's outfit is extremely practical, made for these unfortunate and interesting times. She wears a hard hat and respirator like our front liners. She wears sensible shoes, suitable for running around to those injured, and from those who injured others in the first place.

She wears a backpack. Her hair is tied up in a pony tail. (As a woman who at various times sported long hair, can I say to anyone who insisted on this detail - THANK YOU for understanding.)

In one hand Libby wields an umbrella, and on the other, something more powerful: the pro-democracy movement's revolutionary flag, ‘Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times!’ If the umbrella is our shield, these words are our swords.

In short, Libby may share Demi's ideals (mostly), she's also a break from the past. After 30 years of seeing the Goddess of Democracy's serene defiance go nowhere, Libby was ready to go wreck some shit. One foot astride, she wants action. Demi may look hopefully for the future to arrive, but Libby’s pose says ‘fuck that, I'll clear my own way to the light.’

After Libby was introduced, she started showing up often at protests. And by that I mean we put her on wheels so that she can join HKers on the streets. As one does.

HKers dressed up as Libby at protests. Little 3D-printed versions showed up at marches (and beyond, but we'll get there).

Libby's "I'll fight democracy, not just watch passively" attitude encapsulated what HKers felt in 2019. So we were all moved, and honestly a bit impressed, when one morning someone erected Libby on Lion Rock, where she raised our banner high. It took some effort. The statue was 80kg and took nearly 20 people to haul up in the dead of night. But what a sight!

Tyranny was not pleased. Libby was found destroyed the next day, smeared with red paint. I'm not even going to try to psychoanalyze why the red paint was seemingly aimed at a particular part of the statue.

One thing - her name may be Liberty, but in Chinese, she’s still 民主女神 - Goddess of Democracy. It’s a sign you can’t have one without the other. So maybe Libby and Demi are the same after all, just that the former has grown hardened by her new realities.

Hardened but not hopeless. The HK revolution failed. But just as Democracy lit the torch 30+ years ago that still illuminates us, we must believe Liberty and what she stands for will live on to spark hopes for others to come. There will be others to come. There has to be.

Because you can’t kill an idea. Technology has meant our stories have already spread and blossomed around the world with Libby. 3D printers mean anyone can make little versions of her. She's been popping up around the globe, as HK diaspora and our friends and allies keep hope alive. One even made its way to Tiananmen in Beijing... A small act of resistance, but a big risk.

My favourite moment was from May 2021 when the Lady Liberty team secretly put her all over the place at ArtBasel HK. Because yes, "There's no art without freedom."

And while Lady Liberty is small, what she represents, the memory she stirs, the power she has, is mighty.

Since the failed HK revolution, Lady Liberty has become too much of a loaded symbol. It was removed from universities. A children's clothing chain store was forced to close down because having that statue in stores was considered a breach of the National Security Law. The owner was harassed, malls refused to extend leases, and that was the end of the business.

Which probably only proves the enduring power of Lady Liberty, Goddess of Democracy, and hey, let's throw Pillar of Shame in there too. Why else would authorities be so scared shitless about some pieces of plaster?

It's because memory of what has been and hope of what could be are the most lethal weapons against regimes which both tries to erase the past, and stomp on dreams of the future.

I leave you with the declaration of those who created Goddess of Democracy the in 1989:

“The statue of the Goddess of Democracy…cannot stand here forever. But as the symbol of the people’s hearts, she is divine and inviolate. Let those who would sully her beware…

…the people will not permit this! …On the day when real democracy and freedom come to China, we must erect another Goddess of Democracy here in the Square, monumental, towering, and permanent. We have strong faith that that day will come at last. …

… We have still another hope: Chinese people, arise! Erect the statue of the Goddess of Democracy in your millions of hearts! Long live the people! Long live freedom! Long live democracy! “

For those who want to learn more, here's the official video documenting the birth of Libby, set to a rousing rendition of 'Glory to Hong Kong':

Link to video on Youtube on the making of the HK Lady Liberty)

For those makers interested, the 3D print plans for Lady Liberty is free and online! Stand with HK, make some Liberty.

Link to 3D print plans for HK Lady Liberty

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