Good afternoon everyone, thank you for coming today.
We are here today to support the protesters in Taiwan and defend the democracy of our lovely home country. For those who are not from Taiwan, whether you’re here because you care about this lovely island, because you share our anger about state violence, or because you can really relate to our concerns about a free trade agreement, we thank you for coming here today.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2014
Pittsburgh Taiwanese Community Stands Up for Taiwan’s Democracy During Crisis
Condemns Violent Police Crackdown at Peaceful Protest
Pittsburgh, Pa.: On March 30, the Taiwanese community in Pittsburgh will join people from 17 countries and more than 49 cities around the world and assemble at Carnegie Mellon University to condemn state violence and defend Taiwan’s democracy while supporting those protesting at the Legislature in Taiwan.
The “Occupy Parliament” student movement in Taiwan is a protest in response to the democracy crisis surrounding the controversial Cross-Strait Services Trade Agreement between Taiwan and China. Protesters have peacefully occupied the main chamber of the Legislative Yuan since March 18. Tens of thousands of people have participated in a peaceful sit-in. On March 23, some protesters occupied the executive building and riot police evicted them with brutal violence, beating unarmed students and citizens with batons and shields, after the police evicted media from the scene.
Supporters of Taiwan’s democracy will gather at Margaret Morrison A14 Lecture Hall of Carnegie Mellon University from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to condemn the state violence against peaceful protesters in Taiwan. We demand that (1) President Ma refrain from the use of police brutality; (2) the Cross-Strait Supervisory Agreement be enacted; and (3) civil society be included in dialogue regarding further actions by the government.
About the “Occupy Parliament” demonstration in Taiwan
The Cross-Strait Services Trade Agreement, negotiated behind closed doors, stirred controversy in Taiwan. Tensions escalated after the ruling party broke a bipartisan consensus about the trade pact being reviewed clause-by-clause in the Legislature. Since the student-led group occupied the main chamber of the Legislature on March 18, more than 30,000 have joined, including students, doctors, lawyers, civil activists, and academics. As the tensions between the government and students spiraled, some occupied the Executive Yuan (Parliament). The riot police violently evicted these protesters using high-pressure water cannons and batons. At least 137 protesters were injured and 58 arrested. The rally is also referred to as the “Sunflower Movement.”
In an interview, Senator Sherrod Brown remarked, “I think the message is to President Ma that when you try to jam a trade agreement through a congress, whether it’s in Washington or Taipei, the public resists.”
The “Occupy Parliament” movement is ongoing. The student-led group has been negotiating with the government and called for a rally in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on March 30.
About the event “Withdraw the Cross-Strait Services Trade Agreement, Fight for Taiwan’s Democracy, Overseas Taiwanese Stand Up! ”
This worldwide event was initiated by Taiwanese students in the United Kingdom and Germany. On March 30, supporters of Taiwan’s democracy will gather in more than 49 cities of some 17 countries around the world, including the U.S., UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
For more information, please refer to:
Live stream of the Occupy Parliament /Sunflower Movement in Taiwan g0v.today
(English live)
Democracy at 4 a.m. <4am.tv>
Sunflower Movement Facebook Page <www.facebook.com/sunflowermovement>
Interview with Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman Ed Royce <youtu.be/ZzCT57Suyjg>
BBC What unprecedented protest means for Taiwan
CNN Taiwan police clash with students in protests over trade deal
CNN ireport <http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/1108725>
Time Magzine reports The ‘Battle of Taipei’ Shows Just How Wary of China Young Taiwanese Are
The New York Times Anger Grows in Taiwan Against Deal With China
The Wall Street Journal Taiwan Police Evict Protesters From Cabinet Building
Other YouTube videos <youtu.be/o2XyhLbWKOw> <youtu.be/TTiGuR8SInA>
Contact
Meng-Hsuan Chou
(412) 638-7987
SunflowerMovementPittsburgh@gmail.com
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How you can help
Send a message to members of the U.S. Congress. Ask them to issue a statement in support of a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Taiwan.
More actions in the following cities:
New York, US 15:30 http://ppt.cc/nPAI
Boston, US http://ppt.cc/XAOE
Washington, D.C., US 3/28 http://ppt.cc/bMkW
North Carolina, US http://ppt.cc/0pi2
Pittsburgh, US 13:00 http://ppt.cc/Fk~B
Texas, US 13:30 http://ppt.cc/DwCG
Michigan, US http://ppt.cc/j~tG
Seattle, US http://ppt.cc/sFWb
San Diego, US 13:00 http://ppt.cc/Vnix
Los Angeles, US 14:00 http://ppt.cc/eYTV
San Francisco, US 2014/3/29 13:00 http://ppt.cc/TwB4
Southern California, US 14:00 http://ppt.cc/YQvz
St. Louis, US http://ppt.cc/-2Wa
Oregon, US 15:00 http://ppt.cc/evdD
Chicago, US 14:00 http://ppt.cc/ZxRQ
Vancouver, CA 2014/3/29 16:00 http://ppt.cc/qeAX
Montreal, CA 15:00 http://ppt.cc/Pebq
Toronto, CA 2014/3/29 17:30 http://ppt.cc/WhOb
Calgary, CA 2014/3/29 17:10 http://on.fb.me/1gNyW1y
Dunedin, NZ 14:00 http://ppt.cc/nGrt http://ppt.cc/67UV
Auckland, NZ http://ppt.cc/6~EK
Sydney, AU http://ppt.cc/4rGk http://ppt.cc/vuJ9
Brisbane, AU 15:00 http://ppt.cc/EW2Z
Canberra, AU http://ppt.cc/2g7w
Melbourne, AU 14:00 http://ppt.cc/Up89
Cairns, AU 16:00 http://ppt.cc/Xsz~
Adelaide, AU 15:30 http://ppt.cc/cxmD
Tokyo, JP 14:00: http://ppt.cc/628v
Kyoto, JP 14:00
Fukuoka, JP 14:00
Seoul, SK 13:00 http://ppt.cc/jega（flash mob）
Busan, SK 13:00 http://ppt.cc/jega（flash mob）
Manila, PH 17:30 http://ppt.cc/p8bd
Hong Kong 13:00 http://ppt.cc/b6Tf
Milan, IT 10:30 http://ppt.cc/RF-x
Vienna, AT 13:00 http://ppt.cc/wOht
Berlin, GE 14:00 http://ppt.cc/b~IB http://ppt.cc/b~IB
Frankfurt, GE 13:30 http://ppt.cc/gADu
Amsterdam, NL 15:00 http://ppt.cc/vnPb http://ppt.cc/kq9q
Paris, FR 14:00 http://ppt.cc/QWTs http://ppt.cc/2V~P
Toulouse, FR 14:00 http://ppt.cc/GWXU
Strasbourg, FR 14:00 http://ppt.cc/P2rk
London, UK 13:00 http://ppt.cc/ERqb http://goo.gl/cZzl5K
Dublin, IE 10:00 http://ppt.cc/I~gt
Barcelona, ES 16:00 http://ppt.cc/-JJH http://ppt.cc/8JmN
Valencia, ES 12:00 http://ppt.cc/5wNb
Madrid, ES 2014/3/29 11:30 http://ppt.cc/vmnb
Zurich, CH 14:00 http://goo.gl/pO14eK
Brussels, BE 14:30 http://ppt.cc/Me0n
Sunflower Movement Pittsburgh 