Thousands of students from the United States have participated in events organized to show support to the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

In an event called "Wear Yellow for Hong Kong on October 1st", which was organized by Harvard University students via Facebook, roughly 37,000 people from 42 diverse campuses all over U.S. and Canada enlisted to participate. The rallies were then simultaneously held in their respective schools.

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"Never before have we seen students protesting on such a large scale [in Hong Kong], especially with such a violent police response," shared Leung Yuen-tong, who is a resident of Hong Kong but a student at Tufts University.

"[We want] to show our support for the students...encourage all sides to remain peaceful," added the 19-year-old who was one of the event organizers in Boston.

Another student, Heather Pickerell, who studies in Harvard, but is also a resident of Hong Kong shared her astonishment at the overflowing support received by the event. She also expressed her surprise at how swift the responses were across the country.

"I think the bottom line is that a lot of people don't know what's going on," Pickerell stated. "International scrutiny plays a big role in pressuring the Hong Kong government to stand up to the Mainland," she added.

Christina Wong, a student from Yale University who assisted Pickerell in organizing the events stated that the "goal of the movement was achieved in that many more students are now more aware of the motivations behind [the] pro-democracy protests". Wong shared that a lot of undergraduates, graduates, and faculty members took part in the movement they initiated.

Approximately 500 to 600 people reportedly participated in the event spearheaded by students from Boston colleges. The students organized an open candlelight get-together at a public park called Boston Common. The participants then marched forward to the Massachusetts State House and entwined yellow ribbons to the railings.

Moreover, the organizers of the event in Boston reiterated that the demonstration held was "not explicitly political". The event was said to be aimed at cultivating a deeper understanding of the issue in Hong Kong, as well as showing support to the protesters in their home country.

Students and other activists from New York held their rally at Times Square, where a candlelight vigil was organized at Central Park. Participants from Washington congregated at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. Those from Houston held demonstrations outside the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China.

TagsHong Kong, Wear Yellow for Hong Kong, Rally, Demonstrations, Harvard University, Yale University, Tufts University