Crackdown looms over Hong Kong as martyrdom becomes part of protest narratives

HONG KONG - Only four protesters were left in Hong Kong's legislative chamber as midnight approached.

The rest of several hundred people had finished spray-painting the building, issued their demands to the government, and retreated, knowing police were closing in.

At least one of the four remaining protesters had already written a will, according to legislators who were in the room begging them to leave.

Suddenly, several dozen protesters charged back in, chanting, "We leave together! We leave together!"

The chant reflected growing concerns over the safety of demonstrators, some of whom fear that a culture of martyrdom has settled over Hong Kong's democracy movement.

They grabbed the four to drag them out of the chamber by force. One protester wept as she ran with the group downstairs, telling a local reporter on live television news that they'd come back