(CNN) —
On a hot summer night earlier this month, a few thousand people gathered in Hong Kong to honor a 28-year-old woman who many of them had never met.
Under the glow of Hong Kong’s harbor-side Ferris wheel, they lit candles, sang songs, and left messages to her on colorful Post-it notes, calling her “brave.”
“We will accomplish what is left to be done,” wrote one.
The death of the woman – known to most of the world by her last name, Mak – was the fourth suspected suicide to be connected by local media to ongoing demonstrations, sparked initially by a controversial extradition bill that many feared could further limit freedoms in the semi-autonomous city.
The bill has been suspended, but over a period of just a few months the movement has developed into something bigger – and darker. Some demonstrations – including one on Sunday night – have ended in aggression, with protesters using metal barricades to charge police, and police firing rounds of tear gas to disperse protesters.
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A riot policeman sprays pepper spray at a man as they disperse a crowd during a demonstration against "parallel traders" who buy goods in Hong Kong to resell in mainland China on Sunday, January 5.
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Pro-democracy supporters hold placards as they take part in a New Year's Day rally on Wednesday, January 1 in Hong Kong.
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Pro-democracy supporters wave flags during a countdown party in Tsim Sha Tsui district on New Year's Eve.
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Police arrive to conduct a clearance operation in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong on December 31.
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Protesters take photos of a 'Free HK' light display at a gathering in the Central district of Hong Kong on December 30.
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A man is detained by riot police during a demonstration in a shopping mall at Sheung Shui district on December 28.
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A protester reacts after police fire tear gas to disperse bystanders in the Jordan district of Hong Kong, early on December 25.
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People celebrating the holidays react to tear gas as police confront protesters on Christmas Eve.
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Protesters march in Hong Kong.
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Protesters stage a rally outside the US Consulate in Hong Kong on Sunday, December 1. Hundreds gathered Sunday afternoon outside the US Consulate for another pro-US rally to show support for President Trump after he signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into law.
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People take part in a march from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom in Hong Kong on December 1.
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Pro-democracy candidate Jimmy Sham, right, celebrates with a supporter after winning his election in the Sha Tin district, early November 25. "Today's result represents (my constituency's) support to protesters. The government should immediately establish the Five Demands and respond to the public's voices," Sham posted on Facebook, referencing a long-standing protest slogan.
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Pro-democracy candidate James Yu hugs his girlfriend after winning his seat in district council elections, early November 25.
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People line up to vote outside of a polling place in Hong Kong, November 24. More than 2.9 million people turned out to vote in Sunday's elections, which have been framed as a de facto referendum on the almost six months of ongoing protests.
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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam casts her ballot for the district council elections at a polling place, November 24. In a statement Monday, Lam said her government "respects the election results."
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A group of protesters leave the Hong Kong Polytechnic University holding hands before surrendering to police in the Hung Hom district on November 22.
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Protesters use clothes and helmets to form "SOS" at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 21.
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Protesters raise their hands to represent the five demands of pro-democracy demonstrators during a rally in support of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in the U.S., at the IFC Mall in Hong Kong, on November 21.
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Tables and chairs piled up to create a barrier are left behind by protesters who barricaded themselves inside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
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A Fire Services Department rescue diver prepares to enter the sewage system on November 20 to search for protesters who escaped from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
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Police detain a group of people after they tried to flee the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus on November 19. Last week, thousands of student protesters streamed into the university and occupied the campus as the city's violent political unrest reached fever pitch.
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A protester uses a flashlight while crawling through a sewer tunnel to see how wide it is as he and others try to find an escape route from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 19.
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A protester walks through a gymnasium at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 19.
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Protesters react as police fire tear gas in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, Monday, November 18.
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Firefighters put out a burning car set on fire by protesters near Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the Tsim Sha Tsui district on November 18.
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Police in riot gear move through a cloud of smoke as they detain a protester at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong on November 18. Police have attempted to clear the university, which has been occupied by protesters for days as a strategic protest base.
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Police fire tear gas as protesters attempt to leave Hong Kong Polytechnic University via a bridge on November 18.
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A member of the police clashes with a protester at the Hong Kong Poytechnic University on November 18.
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Protesters use a rope to lower themselves from a pedestrian bridge to waiting motorbikes to escape from police at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 18.
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A protester throws an umbrella onto a fire at the barricaded main entrance of Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 18.
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An anti-government protester is detained at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 18.
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An anti-government protester is showered down by volunteer medical workers after he was soaked by a police water cannons firing pepper spray-infused water at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 18.
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Riot police fire tear gas and rubber bullets as protesters attempt to leave Hong Kong Poytechnic University on November 18.
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A protester prepares to shoot an arrow during a confrontation with police.
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Police use a water cannon outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
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A protester throws a Molotov cocktail at police on November 17.
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Protesters use a catapult to fire bricks at the police from inside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 17.
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A woman tries to hold back riot police from approaching the Hong Kong University in Hong Kong on Saturday.
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Protesters train to throw Molotov cocktails into a swimming pool on the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 14.
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Protesters walk past barricades of bricks on a road near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 14.