This English version may have been machine-generated from the Chinese original and may not convey the original meaning accurately.
Time flows silently amid New York’s neon lights, and in the blink of an eye, it is already Week 46.
As the giant screens in Times Square continue to flicker with the psychedelic glow of cyberpunk, we once again unfurled our banner right on schedule. This time, 3 people showed up.
1. A “New Face” Who Came from Afar
The meaning of an action often lies not in piling up numbers, but in the unexpected connections it creates.
This time, we were missing a few familiar faces from past weeks. Over the course of nearly a year of persistence, this kind of turnover has become the norm—everyone has their own life to lead, with partings and reunions, highs and lows. But what delighted us was the arrival of a new face who had crossed half of the United States to be here.
He had actually just come all the way from Texas.
From the Lone Star State in the South to the streets of New York in the North, thousands of kilometers apart, we stood together tonight. This “magnetic field of action” filled me with an indescribable sense of strength. The wilderness of Texas and the bustle of New York converged in this moment, pointing toward one core truth: recognition of the value of freedom knows no regional boundaries. His arrival injected a much-needed boost of energy into our somewhat sparse ranks.
2. Resonance On and Off Camera
The most special moment of the evening came from a foreign friend.
Carrying livestreaming equipment, he approached us without the slightest hesitation, pointed his camera directly at our banner, and introduced our cause to his viewers. Amid the bustling crowds, he led everyone in shouting:
“Free Free Taiwan!”
In that moment, his voice cut through the din of the square. We shouted along with him, our voices echoing among the towering buildings.
This interaction was no longer merely a passerby stopping to watch, but a form of secondary dissemination. Through his livestream, viewers on the other side of the screen—foreigners who may never have heard of the complex situation across the Taiwan Strait, or may not even have known where Taiwan was—began to learn about Taiwan, China, and the struggles and hopes of the people living on this land.
The flow of internet data transformed a corner of Times Square into a democracy classroom radiating out to the world.
3. Why Are We Still Standing Here?
For the 46th time, the numbers may rise and fall, but our core has grown ever more steadfast.
From the supporter who traveled from Texas to the international viewers in the livestream, the arrival of these “new faces” continually reminds us: honest expression will always find genuine resonance. We support the right of the people of Taiwan to define their own way of life, and we hope this longing for democracy can spread like ripples, starting from Times Square, crossing the Pacific, and reaching the heart of every Chinese person. Even if familiar faces are absent, even if the weather changes, as long as someone keeps going, this relay for freedom will not stop.
The 46th time, recorded here.
Next Monday, for the 47th time, we will still be there.