Hong Kong is burning and Blizzard Entertainment is still complicit in kowtowing to the Chinese government over political speech. The character Mei, ostensively a scientist who studies the polar ice caps and a Chinese citizen, continues to be a symbol of the struggle of Hong Kong natives against the oppressive might of China itself.
The protests started in June against plans to enact legislation enabling extradition to mainland China. Although the bill was withdrawn in September, street protests continue with demands for full autonomy and democratic representation. Protestors now also call for an inquiry into police violence and accountability.
Months after Blizzard president J. Allen Brack failed to address the company’s banning of Hearthstone Grandmaster Blitzchung for speaking out against what’s happening in the city of Hong Kong the company’s now silence on the subject continues its own cowardly compliance.
Mei became a symbol of HK resistance because of her character’s relationship to China, but since then she has become an iconic meme, keeping a presence of her own in fliers, posters, and online imagery that represents the conflict.
As a symbol, she has been seen with the banner “Mei with Hong Kong” or her full name “Mei-Ling Stands with Hong Kong.”
Images of Mei include her holding yellow umbrellas — symbolism for deflecting tear gas canisters — wearing a face mask, and covering one eye – representing the reporter who was shot in the eye by police. There have also been reports of police targeting (and shooting) medics as well.
Many of these images became part of the cultural consciousness and discussion in November during BlizzCon, Blizzard’s titular conference involving a multitude of its products and games announcements.
Some imagery also features Winnie the Pooh, a character from the children’s books by AA Milne, who represents General Secretary Xi Jinping, the chairman of the single-party dictatorship in China.
Over the past few months, with BlizzCon far behind and much of the news cycle falling away from Blitzchung’s banning, most imagery of Mei has begun to fade from Twitter, but on the ground, people continue to produce propaganda involving her image.
It’s hard to say now of Mei will continue to be recalled as a symbol of Hong Kong’s resistance but going into 2020, the protests show no sign of ending.
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