Thousands watch a debate between representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students wearing “Freedom Now” T-shirts and the government on screens set up at the site of a sit-in in downtown Hong Kong Oct. 21. Students, workers and others joined the actions to demand the right to vote for candidates of their own choosing in the 2017 elections. The debate was live-streamed in Hong Kong and to the Chinese mainland — although the mainland only carried statements from government participants.

Protests entered their fourth week, sparked by government insistence that a Beijing-approved nominations committee decide who can run.

The mobilizations are also fueled by anger at the growing income gap between the region’s propertied rulers and workers and students. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told the press Oct. 20 that if candidates were nominated by the public ”obviously you’d be talking to the half of the people in Hong Kong who earn less than US$1,800 a month.”

“Why do many citizens still come out to protest, even though they get beaten by the police?” Chinese University of Hong Kong student Lester Shum said in the debate. “Law is written to protect the basic rights of everyone. It is not only a protection for the rich and privileged.”