JUDY WOODRUFF: The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have entered a new and more violent
phase this week, with the shooting of a protester by police, the burning of a supporter of the
government in Beijing, and the death of an elderly man after struck in the head.
Also this week, universities' campuses become the site of clashes between riot police and
protesters, exacerbating public anger against authorities for the use of force.
"NewsHour" special correspondent Divya Gopalan has this report from Hong Kong.
PROTESTER: Five demands!
PROTESTERS: Not one less!
Stand with Hong Kong!
DIVYA GOPALAN: This has been the scene every lunchtime since the week began, in an area
considered to be Hong Kong's Wall Street.
Many office workers have joined the protest movement, which has gripped the city for nearly
six months.
And once they leave, riot police take over, clearing strategically placed bricks on the
road, trying to get the commercial heart of the city back to business.
An uneasy calm on Friday caps off one of the most violent weeks since the protest movement
began in June, prompting China's leader, Xi Jinping, to comment on the unrest for the
first time, saying: "The continued radical violent criminal actions in Hong Kong have
gravely trampled on rule of law and social order, seriously damaging the prosperity and
stability of Hong Kong."
And he added the Chinese government strongly supports the Hong Kong police in enforcing
the law.
But anger against the police has been growing, with many accusing them of using excessive
force against protesters.
Universities have become the new flash point, with intense confrontations between protesters
and riot police, who fire tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon, and protesters retaliating
with stones and crudely made gasoline bombs.
At the Polytechnic University, the campus has been turned into a fortress.
MAN (through translator): We have been preparing a lot of offensive and defensive weapons.
As you see, once you enter the university campus, a lot of people wear helmets and masks.
We are also making Molotov cocktails to protect ourselves and stopping the police from entering
the university.
DIVYA GOPALAN: The university is a hive of activity, even though classes have been canceled
until the end of the year.
Operations on the campus are well-organized, with different groups assigned tasks.
The kitchens feed anyone who wants a hot meal.
Among them are students, alumni and those who want to help the mostly young protesters.
Frank Wong is one of them, despite being on the government's payroll.
As a search and rescue worker, he often works alongside the police, and says he is concerned
about the protesters safety.
FRANK WONG, Search and Rescue Worker (through translator): The police force ordinance tells
you that batons should never be used on the head.
That can cause death.
But that's what they do.
So the question is, do the police want to apprehend the protesters or kill them?
DIVYA GOPALAN: Along with defending their campus, the protesters are keeping watch over
a tunnel right next to their university.
This is the Cross Harbour Tunnel.
It connects the financial center of Hong Kong with the rest of the city.
It's normally very busy with heavy traffic, but the protesters have shut it down.
And by doing this, they have not only taken over a major transport route, but they are
also sending a message to the government of how much they can disrupt the city.
It's part of a new strategy to create as much chaos and disruption as possible during the
weekdays.
Small groups of protesters barricade roads and highways at peak hours to create commuter
chaos.
MAN: If they can't go to work, then maybe it will have some pressure for the enterprise
to -- so that they can give more pressure to the government.
DIVYA GOPALAN: The action has proved effective.
Schools were closed for the week, while many shops, business and commercial outlets near
protest sites are periodically shut, and public transport and trains canceled.
It's paralyzed the city, and seems to have done the same to the government.
Despite the escalation with each week of protests, the city's leadership has yet to find a way
to defuse the crisis.
For the "PBS NewsHour," this is Divya Gopalan in Hong Kong.