Mei Has Become a Symbol of 'Free Hong Kong' in the Overwatch Community and Beyond

Mei has quickly become a symbol of democracy in Hong Kong after Blizzard banned and fined Hearthstone player, Ng Wai " Blitzchung" Chung.

Blitzchung wore a gas mask and dark goggles during an interview last Sunday. The same type of gear protestors have been using in Hong Kong. At the end of the interview, he shouted, "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times!"

In an announcement released Tuesday, Blizzard Entertainment said the player's statement violated a tournament rule that prohibits any acts that "brings you into public disrepute, offends a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard image."

Since then, the story has grown like wildfire and many in the community have been upset about the reaction and response from Blizzard. That's when Mei became the symbol of freedom.

The hope is to get Mei, and then Overwatch banned as China has banned symbols in the past like Winnie the Pooh when it was associated with president Xi Jinping. It would be a win for the community as Blizzard would lose one of the largest markets in the world even though they condemned the player and interview.

The #BoycottBlizzard hashtag has been trending on Twitter since Wednesday, as the internet shows players uninstalling Blizzards' games in support of Hong Kong. Whether any of this will make a difference remains to be seen.

Photo courtesy of Blizzard