On September 18th, New Yorkers came to 47th Street and 7th Avenue

On September 18th, New Yorkers came to 47th Street and 7th Avenue at 1pm – 3pm in support of a free Taiwan.

Passed from conquering nation to conquering nation throughout its history, several world powers have laid claim on this tiny island including the Dutch, Japanese and Chinese. As a result, Taiwan is a nation that struggles to be recognized, sometimes even by its own melting-pot of cultures and ethnicities, as an independent nation.

You have probably also heard of the tumultuous political situation in present-day Taiwan, not surprising considering its transition from an authoritarian state governed by martial law into a youthful democracy. Yet decades of corruption and a nascent judiciary continue to hinder the progress towards a true two party system where justice can be represented.

Famous Taiwanese Americans
Ang Lee (Filmmaker)
Jerry Yang (Yahoo!)
David Chu (Nautica Founder)
Steve Chen (YouTube)
John Chiang (State of California Comptroller)
Elaine Lan Chao (24th US Secretary of Labor from 2001 to 2009) She was the first Taiwanese-American and the first Asian woman to be appointed to a President’s cabinet in American history.
Lucy Liu (Actress) She was born and raised in Jackson Heights, New York by Taiwanese immigrant parents. Her family spoke Mandarin at home and she says she did not learn English until she was five years old. Her mother was a biochemist and father was a civil engineer in Taiwan.
Sam Ting (Physicist) Winner of the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physics.
David Ho – 1996 Time’s Man Of The Year
Yuan T. Lee – 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Jason Wu – Fashion Designer

Photo credit Nuz Shagsalot