TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In response to the detention of party leader Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), supporters of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) gathered in Taipei on Sunday (Sept. 8) to protest.

After the TPP’s call on Friday (Sept. 6) for party supporters, known as “Little Sprouts,” to rally in Taipei, some gathered for silent protests on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 7). On Sunday, buses from across Taiwan brought hundreds to form a crowd outside the Legislative Yuan, which surpassed over 11,000 people by 7 p.m., reported UDN.  

Earlier in the day, a press conference was held at the party’s Taipei headquarters, where the Emergency Response Committee, led by Huang Kuo-cheng (黃國昌), spoke with the media. Huang said that people’s trust in the judicial system has been seriously damaged. 

Huang said Sunday’s mobilization is just the beginning, and the TPP will continue to galvanize support and demand political reform, reported UDN. 

Around 5 p.m. on Sunday, “Little Sprouts” in white T-shirts, many also wearing teal headbands, began arriving on Jinan Road, where the event started at 6:30 p.m. Reports indicated the crowd was sometimes emotional, as speakers declared Ko was being persecuted and expressed pessimism about Taiwan’s future. 

Throughout the evening, speakers took to the stage to share their grievances. Kuomintang member and CEO of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) said that while Ko must defend his innocence in a court of law, it was clear prosecutors violated the principle of non-disclosure and political intervention in judicial cases must be opposed, per UDN. 

Many TPP supporters were convinced that the Lai administration was unfairly targeting Ko for actions that previous public officials had engaged in without consequence. TPP Legislator Chen Chih-han (陳智菡) criticized the conduct of the media and the prosecutors in the case. She said the issue will sow seeds of reform and encourage more people to stand up for justice, per UDN. 

There were rumors that later in the evening, some in attendance would move to protest outside the detention center in Taipei’s Tucheng District, where Ko is being held. Police stated they are prepared to deal with the protests, and anyone engaging in illegal acts will be charged with disturbing the social order.