Lennon Wall patchwork banner

This cotton patchwork banner was created in Hong Kong and subsequently brought to New Zealand in 2019 by two social workers who visited the country in Dec 2019-Jan 2020. It is handstitched and contains colourful squares with handwritten messages of support from Hong Kong protest supporters written on them. The design of the banner is similar to the many Lennon Walls which have appeared around the world in support of the Hong Kong protest movement (see below).

The social workers, who had previously spent six months taking part in protests in Hong Kong, regularly displayed this banner on their campervan while travelling around New Zealand. Before returning to Hong Kong, they contacted activists connected to the group We Are Kiwi Hong Kongers 香港逃 犯條例修訂草案紐西蘭關注組 and gave them the banner so that they could continue using it to generate support for the cause. It was subsequently used in solidarity rallies at Aotea Square in Auckland as a reminder of ongoing connections between Hong Kong protest movement supporters based in New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Lennon Walls

The term 'Lennon Wall' comes from the original Lennon Wall in Prague, which was started after the assassination of John Lennon. Inspired by Lennon and his symbolic representation of freedom and political struggle, the original Wall featured Lennon-inspired graffiti, images and messages from those critical of the Communist regime.

In Hong Kong, the first Lennon Wall arose during the 2014 Umbrella Movement. John Lennon’s song, Imagine, was adopted and sung by the crowd during that movement, and a lyric was hung on a banner near the Wall. In support of the Extradition Bill protests, a Lennon Wall was once again set up in front of the Hong Kong Central Government Offices staircase. Many also appeared in Hong Kong neighbourhoods, on university campuses and even inside government offices, including RTHK[20] and the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office.

Lennon Walls in support of the Hong Kong protest movement have been staged around the world by supporters, including in Toronto, Vancouver BC, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Melbourne, Manchester, Sydney, Taipei and Auckland. Messages of solidarity for the Hong Kong protest movement have also been added to the Lennon Wall in Prague.

Hong Kong protest movement and Aotearoa

The Hong Kong protests were originally incited by the proposed Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019. Also known as the Hong Kong Extradition Bill, the proposed legislation would have enabled Hong Kong residents to be extradited to mainland China to face trial. The protest movement subsequently evolved and continued through much of the first half of 2020, though the Extradition Bill was withdrawn in October 2019. On 30 June 2020, the Chinese legislature approved the controversial National Security Law, bypassing Hong Kong’s own elected legislative council. This law effectively outlawed activities perceived as dissenting or secessionist, including the possession of protest banners and flags carrying slogans associated with the protest movement such as ‘Free Hong Kong/Revolution of our Times’.

The Hong Kong protests have garnered significant international attention due to Hong Kong’s importance to the global economy and the political aspects of China’s increasing prominence as a global player. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the protests have prompted wide-ranging debates, including those relating to democracy and freedom of speech, New Zealand’s relationship to China and the government’s obligations to those connected to Hong Kong but based here, among them international students and temporary visa holders, as well as citizens and permanent residents with familial and cultural links to Hong Kong.