Civil Society Organizations United Silent March: Supporting Wild Strawberries, Protecting Our Taiwan!

We thought the era of authoritarianism had flowed away like a river toward the east.
We thought freedom of freedom had become as secure as Mount Tai.
We were all wrong.

How painstaking was the establishment of freedom and democracy? Over the past half century, millions of predecessors sacrificed for it. Yet how easy is the destruction of freedom and democracy? Over the past week, for the sake of Chinese envoy Ch'en Yun-lin, citizens who merely held national flags, unfurled banners, sang songs, or chanted slogans were subjected to police beatings with fists, feet, and batons. Authoritarian rule is staging a comeback, and freedom of speech no longer exists.

Just as the people were gripped by panic and fear, and social movement organizations were deliberating on countermeasures, a fresh force defending freedom of speech emerged on university campuses.
From the sit-in at the Executive Yuan on the morning of the 6th to the establishment of the "Wild Strawberry Student Movement" on the 9th, the younger generation expressed their grave concern that the core of the current democratic crisis is "the Assembly and Parade Act is unconstitutional, and human rights disappear." They also put forward three major demands: "Ma Ying-jeou and Liu Chao-shiuan must apologize," "Tsai Chao-ming and Wang Cho-chun must step down," and "amend the vicious Assembly and Parade Act."

Social movement organizations fully support the demands of the "Wild Strawberry Student Movement" and have decided to join the cause through concrete action. Starting from the 11th, members of various civil organizations will take turns in a relay every day between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, marching silently around Liberty Square to express the significance of "supporting the Wild Strawberries and protecting our Taiwan."

We call on all sectors of society to join this civic action and show solidarity with the students' demands. As the late sage Chiang Wei-shui wisely put it, "Compatriots must unite; only through unity is there strength." Only by demonstrating the will of civil society, jointly condemning state violence, and reclaiming freedom of speech can democracy be restored in Taiwan.

The guidelines for the "United Silent March" are as follows:

• Time: Every evening between 6:00 and 7:00 PM
• Assembly Point: In front of the Wild Strawberry tent at Liberty Square
• Core Theme of the Silent March: Support Wild Strawberries, Protect Our Taiwan
• Precautions: Form a single-file line, remain silent and fasting, do not chant slogans, do not bring flags, and only carry signs prepared by the organizing units such as the "Alliance to Amend the Vicious Assembly and Parade Act."

Initiating Organizations

Alliance to Amend the Vicious Assembly and Parade Act
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Judicial Reform Foundation
Homemaker Education Foundation
Taiwan Labour Front
Taiwan Environmental Action Network
Amnesty International Taiwan Section
Taiwan Law Society
Green Party Taiwan
Taiwan Environmental Protection Union
Taiwan Awakening Foundation
Association for Media Literacy
Association for Indigenous Rights Advancement
Green Front Association
Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty