The 2014 Hong Kong Protests, widely known as the Umbrella Movement, began as a series of sit-in street protests against proposed reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system. The movement gained international recognition through the iconic image of protesters using umbrellas to shield themselves from police pepper spray and tear gas, turning an everyday object into a symbol of defiance. In the meme world, these images are often used to represent civil liberties, the struggle of the individual against state power, or to commemorate the specific historical events of the Umbrella Revolution. Usage typically ranges from serious political commentary to metaphorical representations of holding the line against overwhelming odds.