Just a few nights ago, they were throwing Molotov cocktails during the anti-government protests in Hong Kong. When two of their friends were arrested by the police, they became afraid that they would be next. In a panic, they reached out to a private online group that assists people in escaping to Taiwan. Within hours, they were on a flight to Taipei. "We're running from the authorities," one of the protesters said nervously, looking around the food court. “We didn’t have much time to figure out what is happening.” The group quickly left the airport and got into a black van, speeding away towards an uncertain future. They are part of a group of over 200 young protesters who have sought refuge in Taiwan since the beginning of the Hong Kong democracy movement this year. Lawyers, pastors, and other supporters have assisted them in leaving, with dozens arriving in recent weeks after escaping from police besieged university campuses. The protesters are fleeing due to fears of arrest and violence, as the clashes between demonstrators and authorities have intensified, with police using tear gas, batons, and water cannons against them. Some protesters are becoming more aggressive after feeling disillusioned by the failure of the movement's peaceful tactics. They are vandalizing buildings and throwing bricks at police. Over 5,000 people have been arrested since the protests began in June, with hundreds facing potential harsh sentences. Despite vows to continue fighting, a growing atmosphere of mistrust is causing some demonstrators to leave Hong Kong out of fear of unfair treatment in court or abuse in detention, including allegations of sexual assault and rumors of torture. Others are seeking medical treatment in Taiwan after hearing about the arrests happening in Hong Kong hospitals. Protesters and organizers helping with the escapes have emphasized the need to keep certain details and identities confidential to ensure the safety of the operation. Chris Ng, a lawyer who has been representing arrested protesters, mentioned that some protesters have lost confidence in Hong Kong's judicial system due to the severe consequences they face for their actions. Ng has observed instances where protesters have not shown up for court hearings and likely fled Hong Kong. He believes that protesters are reluctant to face the legal consequences because they doubt they will be treated fairly or receive a punishment that is proportional to their offense. A hidden group of supporters has become active along the pipeline between Hong Kong and Taiwan, helping protesters by providing safe houses, organizing their exits, paying for airplane tickets, and arranging transportation to and from airports. Fishermen are offering boat rides for the 440-mile journey at a high cost, while pastors are creating smuggling routes for protesters who have been arrested and had their passports confiscated. Chun Sen Huang, a lively 54-year-old pastor at Chi Nan Presbyterian Church in Taipei, humorously mentioned that he is getting used to unexpected gatherings. He plays a crucial role in the network by coordinating travel plans, arranging accommodations, and connecting protesters with various resources in Taiwan. Huang is constantly on his phone, even during sermons and prayers, to fulfill requests. Recently, he was contacted by a protester who claimed to have been raped by Hong Kong police and needed help getting to Taiwan for an abortion. Additionally, he assisted 10 students who fled from Hong Kong Polytechnic University after a prolonged standoff between police and protesters. Huang introduced them to a lawyer who assisted in obtaining temporary student visas through a Taiwan university. A woman contacted, seeking a new guardian for her 14-year-old son, who had used Molotov cocktails. Taiwan, a self-governing island, is seen as a convenient and hospitable sanctuary. Similar to Hong Kong, it has a tradition of sheltering dissidents from mainland China. Despite Beijing's claim that Taiwan is part of China, Taiwanese leaders maintain their independence. Many Taiwanese citizens have shown their support for the protests in Hong Kong due to concerns about the Chinese government's interference in the region and how it could affect Taiwan's own democracy. The protests began in response to a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong to send fugitives to Taiwan for trial, even though the two do not have an extradition agreement. Protesters feared that this legal change could lead to dissidents being sent to mainland China for trial, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party. While Taiwan is supportive of the protesters, the government is being cautious in its approach, as it does not want to provoke Beijing by enacting more lenient asylum laws. Many asylum seekers who come to seek refuge often find themselves in a legal grey area with only temporary visas. Huang, a pastor with 22 years of experience in Taiwan, has assisted numerous dissidents in escaping persecution from the Chinese government. However, he believes that the current operation he is witnessing is unprecedented in scale, resembling the clandestine network known as "Operation Yellowbird" which helped hundreds of dissidents escape China and reach Hong Kong after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Huang remains optimistic, stating that "Darkness can never defeat light" as he guides five newcomers into the church. "I am confident that democracy and freedom will ultimately triumph over totalitarianism." It is a difficult choice for protesters to decide whether to flee or stay. Ali, a senior at Hang Seng University, has been arrested twice and could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. During her second arrest, she was held in a parking lot with 70 other protesters for 48 hours, lacking privacy. Ali described how male officers would enter the bathroom without warning and how she could hear other protesters being interrogated. She said she was accused of rioting without being told why. During her detention, she missed her first day of work as an associate teacher at a primary school and lost her job. As she waits for her trial, her aspiration to be a teacher is fading. "It's as if I'm picturing a previous existence," she expressed. "My prospects are destroyed," Ali stated from her grandmother's house, where she resides. The situation has led her to question what options are still available to her. With her passport taken away, she would need to depend on smugglers to transport her by boat to Taiwan. Despite this, she is concerned about leaving her elderly grandmother behind, as she is unable to care for herself. There is also uncertainty about whether she would be able to come back. Volunteer groups are offering financial assistance to protesters seeking to flee, with one social worker in her forties revealing that she has funded the journeys of 11 protesters to Taiwan. Not having children of her own, the social worker expressed a duty to assist young people, stating that she would be proud to have tried to aid them against totalitarianism even if she were to be arrested. She began fundraising for protesters fleeing in July, particularly helping a 17-year-old who had been kicked out of his home by his parents for participating in the protests. She mainly receives donations in cash and in person to avoid undercover police officers who may pretend to be supporters. She mentioned that the majority of people in Hong Kong are not happy and that it is not just a small group of radical youngsters influenced by the USA, as claimed by Beijing. She stated that support for the protests is coming from various sectors of society. In Taiwan, protesters who enter through proper channels are typically granted monthly visas, which can be renewed. A 22-year-old protester named Daniel has been living in Taiwan since July on an extended tourist visa. He described his initial involvement in the movement as "fairly radical" and mentioned that his face was caught on surveillance footage after storming Hong Kong's legislative building. The following day, two police officers approached him on the sidewalk and informed him that they knew who he was. This encounter made Daniel realize that he could no longer hide from the truth and that he needed to leave his home. Although he managed to avoid being arrested, he does not feel safe. He suspects that his phone has been hacked and that he is being followed. While he receives financial support from an aid group in Hong Kong to cover his living expenses, he worries that the money will not sustain him for long. The stress caused him to seek help from a psychologist, who determined that he has post-traumatic stress disorder. Daniel mentioned that the most difficult aspect is the longing he experiences for all that he abandoned. Before he left, he recalled standing at the bottom of his house's steps in tears. This memory constantly replays in his mind. He expressed his realization that he may never return to Hong Kong to see his home or his mother again. Text from around 2019 belonging to The New York Times Company.