The Occupy Wall Street protest that began on Sept. 17 in New York is spreading to Taiwan with Occupy Taipei (佔領台北), an event organized that takes place tomorrow outside Taipei 101, beginning at 1:01pm. As of yesterday, more than 1,400 people have said on the group’s Facebook page that they will join the event, which takes aim at social inequality and corporate greed. Although some foreign nationals have expressed concern that attending the protest may lead to arrest and possible deportation, the National Immigration Agency told the Taipei Times that foreign nationals who are legal residents of Taiwan could attend a protest if a permit has been applied for and granted six days before the protest date. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Xinyi Police Department had yet to receive an application from organizers. However, a message posted by co-organizer Kimba Vetten on the Occupy Taipei Facebook page said, “people who organize protests will be helping us and be informing people of their rights and what to say when police ask you questions. Taiwan hasn’t arrested protesters for a long time. Twenty years ago — yes, but not today. Anyway this is a peaceful gathering.”
■ Occupy Taipei (佔領台北), Taipei 101
■ Tomorrow beginning at 1:01pm
Photo courtesy of Occupy Taipei
■ On the Net: occupytaipei.tw
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