Over 100 overseas Taiwanese nationals have raised the money to purchase a sign promoting the “Bluebird Movement” in New York City. The project, named “Keep Taiwan Free,” was funded in just two hours, and the finished billboard is set to debut in Times Square on June 4, New York time.
Taiwan’s legislature has been grappling with protests, dubbed the “Bluebird Movement,” over controversial draft amendments. The amendments, in essence, would increase legislative power. However, most of the protests are against the way in which members of the Legislature attempted to pass the legislation, which many saw as unconstitutional. Protests have intensified since the amendment drafts passed their third reading on Tuesday, with as many as 100,000 attendees.
Many overseas Taiwanese nationals expressed frustration watching the protests unfold – distance and time differences making it difficult to participate in meaningful ways. It was for that reason Taiwan-based Lilian established a group for this demographic to plan ways in which they could amplify the movement’s message. One member shared their connections to a company that hosts Times Square billboards, and from there the plan was hatched. The group worked together to design the billboard, translate their message, negotiate fees, and raise the funds. The “Keep Taiwan Free” campaign was fully funded at NT$2.6 million (US$80,050) in under three hours, with the whole project ready in one day.
While the content cannot be made public at this time, the finished billboard will play a 30-second video in Times Square every 5 minutes throughout June 4, Eastern Daylight Time. The message is meant to not only spread the Bluebird movement overseas, but to express Taiwan as a free country.
The group sees New York as just the beginning: group members are already looking to emulate the project in other cities such as Paris and Tokyo. Lilian says negotiations are already underway to spread the Bluebird Movement message further around the world.