Close to 1,000 Torontonians took part in a rally Wednesday afternoon to show solidarity with pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

Chanting “We support Hong Kong,” the group marched a few blocks from the University of Toronto’s campus to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, located at 174 St. George Street.

For the past five days, thousands of people have taken over Hong Kong’s business district to protest the Chinese government’s decision not to hold free and open elections in 2017.

“What we are really hitting on right now is just to awaken everybody, not just the people in Hong Kong but all around the world,” Teresa Woo, a participant in the Toronto rally, told CP24.

“We are here to support all of the students and citizens in Hong Kong who are participating in a very peaceful protest but were faced with excessive force by the police. So we are here to say no to that and we are … fighting for true democracy.”

Many of those who took part in the rally carried signs reading, “You are not alone,” and “Democracy.”

“I believe this will open a new negotiation with the Chinese government and I hope the Chinese government will be able to hear us, our petitions,” said Kelvin Chu, a student who joined in for Wednesday’s march.

“I hope in the near future they will open negotiations.”