To preserve the historical record of the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally, the rally's organizer -- the Hand-in-Hand Taiwan Alliance (
"The 228 rally was a historic moment with many meanings. Not only did it bring international attention to Taiwan, but to hold such an event on February 28, a day that still is an open wound in the Taiwanese psyche, gave the rally even greater significance for the Taiwanese people themselves," said Academia Historica President Chang Yen-hsien (
An estimated 2 million people across the country joined hands at 2:28pm on Feb. 28 to protest China's military threat.
Chiang said the Academia Historica has not yet decided how it will use the collection, but there are already plans for a published collection of essays and images as well as an exhibit on the Internet.
"It stirred everyone, from participants to observers, to see strangers holding hands across the nation. You could see the emotion as it flowed from one hand to another. The event was truly a people's moment," Chang said.
According to the Hand-in-Hand Alliance, the donation includes video clips, aerial and location photographs, and written memoirs about the event from people across the nation.
"We knew that we had to make a record of such a historic event," said Chen Chieng Ting (
"To do this, the alliance's Digital Record Plan had volunteers go all over Taiwan on the day of the rally to gather the images and words of the Taiwanese," Chen said.
Chen added the plan was expanded to allow anyone to go to the Web site (www.itaiwan.org.tw) and upload their own personal pictures and thoughts of the event.
Huang Kuan-tsae (
"Everyday, we receive 3,000 to 4,000 more through our Web site. We hope to bring more of these memoirs to the people in future events," Huang said.
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