Last Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., nearly a hundred people gathered in front of the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, holding up signs in both Chinese and English that read “Stand with Taiwan,” “Stand with Democracy,” and “Against abuse of power and expansion of authority.” They loudly chanted slogans like “No discussion, no democracy,” to protest against recent controversial legislation pushed by the Taiwan Legislative Yuan that has been criticized for potential abuse of power and alleged Chinese Communist Party interference. Passing vehicles honked their horns in support and admiration.
On May 17th, violent physical clashes erupted inside the Taiwan Legislative Yuan due to the “Parliamentary Reform Act,” the “Three Transportation Laws in Hualien and Taitung,” and discrepancies from standard procedures. Hundreds of citizens spontaneously gathered outside the Legislative Yuan to voice their concerns. On May 28th, the Taiwan Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the “Legislative Yuan Exercise of Functions Act,” triggering over ten thousand Taiwanese to take to the streets in a gentle yet resolute movement known as the “Bluebird Movement” (also referred to as the Bluebird Action).
Ken Wu, the coordinator of the “LA Bluebird Movement,” stated that the event was jointly organized by the Taiwanese American Citizens’ Western Summer Camp (TAC-WC) Los Angeles Organizing Team and the Los Angeles branch of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA). Despite the short notice for organizing the event, support poured in from Taiwanese Americans in the western United States. In addition to locals from Los Angeles, Taiwanese participants from San Francisco, San Diego, and even international friends joined in to protect universal values such as democracy and freedom.
The age range of the attendees spanned across generations, with many young Taiwanese Americans stepping up to advocate for Taiwan. Numerous Taiwanese American families brought their children to the event. A Taiwanese mother told a reporter that even though her children were young and not politically aware, she hoped to instill in them a sense of identity with Taiwan and strengthen their connection through participation in such activities.
Ken Wu believed that the recent legislative amendments made by the Taiwan Legislative Yuan lacked rational and transparent discussion and posed serious threats to Taiwan and its allies worldwide, prompting strong protests from the Taiwanese people. He cited that the passed legislation granting the parliament unrestrained investigatory powers would raise concerns among Taiwan’s international allies, potentially leading to leaks of sensitive military and technological information to countries like Europe and America.
He argued that the expansion of power by the Legislative Yuan not only harms Taiwan’s democratic system but also creates international crises. The behind-the-scenes operation of the Taiwan Legislative Yuan clearly shows manipulation by the Chinese Communist Party, with the potential scenario of the CCP infiltrating Taiwan and employing democratic means to undermine democracy being possible anywhere. This is why the protest march was held in the bustling area of Los Angeles, urging mainstream American society and all sectors to pay attention.
The choice of holding the LA Bluebird Movement in front of the Wilshire Federal Building is significant as it was the same location where in 2014, young Taiwanese students led the “Sunflower Movement” in support of Taiwan. Now, ten years later, one of the key figures in the Blue and White Coalition of the Taiwan Legislative Yuan, Huang Kuo-Chang, who was also a prominent figure in the Sunflower Student Movement, finds himself on the opposing end. The “Sunflower Movement 2.0” aims to oppose the abusive and expansionist behaviors, a poignant development.
Josephine Pan, a board member of the Taiwan United Foundation (TUF), and her husband, Thomas Shu, made their own signs and brought a symbolic “Keep Taiwan Free” black bear doll to show their support.
Josephine Pan, who has lived in the U.S. for nearly forty years and recently returned from Taiwan to Los Angeles, witnessed the chaos in the Legislative Yuan firsthand. She emphasized that she is Taiwanese, with her mother and friends still residing in Taiwan, and she stands by Taiwan. She stressed that Taiwan’s democracy cannot regress, and the rights of the Taiwanese people must not be stripped away.
Mr. Wei, who immigrated from Shanghai to the U.S. with his family, also spoke out in support of Taiwan. Mrs. Wei, a Taiwanese citizen, faced harassment from Chinese authorities in the past for listing “Taiwan” in the nationality section. She finds it infuriating that the expansion of powers by the Legislative Yuan was passed without adequate discussion and transparency, describing it as a complete betrayal of the will of the people.
Mr. Wei also expressed concerns that the expanded investigatory powers in the legislative amendments passed could lead to the leaking of personal information of those opposing the CCP and supporting Taiwan. His trust in the Blue and White Coalition was almost nonexistent, fearing that these powers could be abused or utilized by the CCP.
17-year-old Taiwanese youth Ryan, currently studying in high school, also took to the microphone to speak up. Although he lacks the right to vote, he hopes to defend Taiwan through his voice and actions, shedding light on the challenges Taiwan is facing and ensuring the world sees Taiwan.
The “Bluebird Movement” initiated by Taiwanese civil society has now spread globally. In less than two days, the fundraising campaign for the “Support from Overseas Parents of the Bluebird Movement – Billboard Advertisement in Times Square, New York” exceeded 2.6 million New Taiwan Dollars (approximately $80,000), aiming to display a 30-second video every 5 minutes on June 4th (June 5th in Taiwan) in Times Square, New York.
The New York Bluebird Movement aims to convey the value of Taiwanese democracy and unwavering belief that even from afar, they will not let their homeland feel isolated. It also demonstrates the solidarity of Taiwanese people both at home and abroad, as well as other democracy advocates in safeguarding Taiwan’s determination, hoping to inspire more friends who love Taiwan and are willing to contribute to respond from all corners of the globe.
According to Ken Wu, similar fundraising activities are being held in Japan and Europe, with plans to connect ad campaigns supporting Taiwan worldwide. Prior events organized by Taiwanese groups in London and Vancouver, as well as the Taiwan Community Organization in Manchester, U.K., are in the works.
Ken Wu hopes that the “Bluebird Movement” will further flourish, showcasing Taiwan’s pursuit of peace, rule of law, and gentle strength to the world. ◇