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An overhead view shows thousands of protesters marching through a Hong Kong street to protest a controversial extradition bill on Sunday, June 16.
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In pictures: Extradition bill sparks Hong Kong protests

Updated 1:23 PM ET, Mon June 17, 2019

An overhead view shows thousands of protesters marching through a Hong Kong street to protest a controversial extradition bill on Sunday, June 16.
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Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday, despite a move by the city's embattled leader to suspend a controversial extradition bill.

Organizers of the march said around 2 million people took part. Police said it was 338,000.

The bill, which would have enabled China to extradite fugitives from the city, has been met with widespread opposition, including from Hong Kong's traditionally conservative business community.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Kam said the bill was needed to plug loopholes and prevent the city from becoming a haven for mainland fugitives. On Saturday, Lam said passage of the bill would be suspended. She also issued a rare apology Sunday night, admitting "deficiencies" in the government's work had led to "substantial controversies and disputes in society."

There were also protests in Hong Kong on Wednesday and last Sunday. On Wednesday, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters after protesters surrounded the city's government headquarters.

Protesters attend Sunday's rally. There were also protests on Wednesday and last Sunday.
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Members of the early crowd were predominantly young people, but they were soon joined by families.
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Aerial shots along the protest route showed the crowd at standstill as crowd numbers continued to surge throughout the afternoon and into the early evening.
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Organizers of Sunday's demonstration called for authorities to drop charges against the 11 people arrested during protests Wednesday. Many of those attending Sunday's march carried signs with the slogan "stop killing us" alongside images of bloodied protesters.
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Thousands of protesters gather at the start of Sunday's rally.
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Although Hong Kong is part of China, it has separate laws. And unlike mainland China, it has no capital punishment.
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A protester returns a tear-gas canister fired by police during clashes outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on Wednesday, June 12.
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Rubber bullets, pepper spray and hand-thrown tear gas were used Wednesday to push back protesters who had occupied the city's main thoroughfare and other roads near the government headquarters, Hong Kong Police Commissioner Steven Lo Wai-chung said.
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Protesters run after police fired tear gas on Wednesday.
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A policeman reacts to an umbrella that was thrown near the Legislative Council buildings on Wednesday. The Umbrella Movement in 2014 galvanized Hong Kong's youth and was mainly student-led. But this past week, there have been lawyers, business people and middle-aged people protesting for the first time.
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Police officers fire tear gas during the demonstration Wednesday.
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Police officers use a water cannon on a protester near the government headquarters.
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Protesters shield themselves against pepper spray used by police.
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Police fire tear gas toward protesters outside the Legislative Council.
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A protester reacts as she is grabbed by police during Wednesday's demonstration.
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Police and protesters clash outside the Legislative Council buildings.
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Protesters face off with police during Wednesday's rally.
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A protester rests during the demonstration. Protesters began arriving the night before.
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By Wednesday morning, tens of thousands of mainly young people had arrived in the area, blocking streets and bringing central Hong Kong to a standstill.
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Pro-democracy lawmaker Roy Kwong chants slogans outside the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
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Protesters block major roads near the Legislative Council and government headquarters. Hundreds of businesses, parents and teachers called for a boycott of work and school on Wednesday to show their opposition to the bill.
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A demonstrator holds a sign during Wednesday's rally.
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Up to 5,000 police in riot gear were deployed to guard the Legislative Council buildings.
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Demonstrators occupy roads outside the Legislative Council on Monday, June 10. It was a continuation of protests that started the day before.
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Police use pepper spray against protesters early on June 10. The protest was mostly peaceful during the day, but it turned violent overnight, with police trying to clear away protesters with pepper spray and batons.
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Police officers charge toward protesters during clashes on June 10.
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A protester reacts as police and demonstrators clash on June 10.
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A police camera films the rally on Sunday, June 9.
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Protesters hold pictures of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on June 9.
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Protesters on June 9 waved placards and wore white -- the designated color of the rally. "Hong Kong, never give up!" some chanted.
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Demonstrators hold signs during the protest on June 9.
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A crowd fills a Hong Kong street on June 9.
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Students wear chains during a demonstration on Saturday, June 8.
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