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Summary

In November 2008, Taiwanese university students and professors launched a sit-in campaign in Taipei to protest police repression during DPP-led demonstrations against a Chinese official’s visit. The movement, known as the Wild Strawberry Movement, demanded amendments to the Assembly and Parade Law, punishment of police, and an apology from President Ma. The campaign ended in January 2009 after the law was partially amended, but the other demands were not met.

Background

On November 3, 2008, Chinese official Chen Yunlin visited Taiwan, sparking protests by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that led to violent clashes with police. In response, police closed highways, restricted flag-waving, and hindered filming, among other repressive actions. A group of university students and professors began a sit-in on November 6 to demand amendments to the Assembly and Parade Law, punishment of police, and an apology from President Ma for the police brutality.

What happened

The sit-in began on November 6, 2008 at 11 AM outside the Executive Yuan building, but was broken up by police on November 7. [source: nv-database] The protesters regrouped at Liberty Square in front of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and resumed the sit-in. [source: nv-database] By November 10, solidarity sit-ins had started in Tainan, Central Taiwan, Hsinchu, and Kaohsiung. [source: nv-database] Over the next month, social activist groups, artists, students in Hong Kong, Tibetan representatives, and local Taiwanese showed support through seminars, silent processions, political skits, concerts, and leafleting. [source: nv-database] On November 11, an 80-year-old man named Liu Po-Yan set himself on fire in protest. [source: nv-database] On November 25, police chiefs involved in the earlier repression were promoted. [source: nv-database] On December 7, the Wild Strawberries organized an illegal march of 5,000 participants to the Presidential Palace. [source: nv-database] On December 11, police forced the sit-in to close, beating student protesters and dispersing them by bus. [source: nv-database] The sit-in resumed the next day under 24-hour police surveillance. [source: nv-database] The Assembly and Parade Law was amended on December 24, abolishing the permit requirement and opening restricted areas, but granting police new powers. [source: nv-database] The campaign ended on January 4, 2009, and the movement moved to a new headquarters called WildBerry House, which opened on January 11. [source: nv-database]

Key people & organizations

  • Wild Strawberries
  • President Ma Ying-jiao
  • DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ying-wen
  • Scholar Ronald Dworkin
  • American activist Lynn Miles
  • Liu Po-Yan
  • Premier Liu Shao Chiuan

Tactics used

The campaign combined sustained sit-ins with cultural performances, teach-ins, and symbolic actions to maintain visibility and pressure, while coalition-building with diverse groups expanded the movement’s reach and resilience. [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: partial.

The Assembly and Parade Law was partially amended to remove permit requirements and open restricted areas, but police gained new powers, and President Ma never apologized nor were police punished. The campaign achieved 3 out of 6 points for specific demands, but survived and grew, resulting in a partial outcome. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • Sustained nonviolent occupation of a symbolic public space can keep pressure on authorities and attract media attention.
  • Building coalitions with diverse groups (artists, refugees, NGOs) strengthens the movement and provides mutual support.
  • Even partial legislative victories can result from sustained civil disobedience, but may come with trade-offs that empower opponents.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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