TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following violent scenes in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan on Friday (May 17), an internet celebrity organized a demonstration outside of a prominent Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker’s home in Taipei’s Songshan District on Saturday (May 18).
Internet personality and gay rights activist 4XCat (四叉貓), whose real name is Liu Yu-hsi (劉宇席), filed a petition with police to legally hold the public demonstration outside the home of KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), reported CNA.
Although 4XCat’s event had been planned for several days prior, it attracted a crowd of hundreds after Friday’s shocking scenes of KMT legislators battling with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers stirred public anger. During Friday’s scuffles at the Legislative Yuan, Hsu was recorded playing the flute amid the ruckus.
4XCat initially organized the demonstration because the KMT lawmaker recently filed a harassment report against several protesters who confronted her near home. In response, 4XCat organized the “518 Pilgrimage to Hsu Chiao-hsin’s Home” via legal channels to shame Hsu for her conduct.
The event was also intended to mock Hsu for her attempts to politicize a controversy surrounding the childhood home of President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德). In the lead up to the January elections, Hsu, as a candidate for the Legislative Yuan, visited Lai’s childhood home multiple times for campaign photo shoots.
Unluckily for Hsu, since the event came on the heels of Friday’s chaos at the Legislative Yuan, 4XCat’s move turned into a large public forum. Although there were some counter protesters, police presence ensured the event was peaceful.
Dozens of citizens voiced their anger over the conduct of Hsu and other lawmakers, with many holding signs condemning the violence. When interviewed by the media, 4XCat expressed his surprise at the turnout, saying “I never expected so many people. I almost cried.”
Over the past year, Hsu has developed a reputation as a combative lawmaker and has been criticized for her own alleged involvement in a real estate scandal. In recent weeks, Taiwan’s foreign ministry filed a legal complaint against Hsu for leaking classified information that could harm national security.
