TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Megaport Festival, Taiwan’s largest annual music festival, which attracted an estimated 40,000 visitors over the weekend in Kaohsiung, saw several musical acts call upon the public to support the second-stage recall of legislators.
Taiwanese rock band Sorry Youth (拍謝少年) dedicated part of their set to an animated video criticizing pro-China legislators whose tactics have stalled legislation, cut defense budgets, and disregarded China’s attacks on Taiwan’s independence, per Liberty Times.
Before the band’s performance, Sorry Youth bassist Giang Giang (薑薑) appeared in an interview where he said, "If we don't protect this place, someone else will speak for us." He encouraged all Taiwanese to unite and recall legislators unwilling to defend Taiwan.
A Taiwan-wide recall campaign is in its second phase for 19 KMT legislators, with a stall supporting the recall effort collecting an estimated 2,000 recall petitions outside Kaohsiung MRT Yanchengpu Station near the festival. DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) also traveled south to support the effort.
Sorry Youth drew upon the tale “The Three Little Pigs” in their video to discuss current affairs facing Taiwan like the severing of submarine cables and cuts to the defense budget. It also used the character of the wolf to represent China and the attacks Taiwan is facing.
"We used the tale of the three little pigs to tell the truth behind the conspiracies and the threats we are now facing. We are musicians who were raised by this land. We chose this opportunity where many people can see us to tell this story because we have a responsibility and feelings for this land."
In one part of the video, one pig says, "The enemy is already lurking in our society, and our homes are about to be breached from within. If we don't want to be invaded, shouldn't we unite to prevent these things from happening?"
After the video, the group performed "Justice in Time,” a song inspired by individuals blacklisted and forced into exile during the White Terror.
Other musicians also lent support for the recall effort, including rapper Yang Shu-ya (楊舒雅), who appeared on stage with rapper Gummy B. At the end of her performance, she said, "There has never been a situation where music is music and politics is politics. Music is politics, politics is music, women are politics, the body is politics, and identity is politics."
Yang expressed concern for volunteers manning recall booths who are facing harassment in various locations. She encouraged everyone to thank and support these individuals at the front lines of Taiwan’s democracy.
