Taiwanese councilor defends student targeted online

A student's chant of "New Taipei Mayor" at a high school graduation ceremony has sparked a debate online, drawing criticism from some who labeled the student a "Blue Bird" activist. The incident escalated when Taoyuan City Councilor Zhan Jiang-cun publicly criticized the student. However, the situation took a turn when Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taoyuan City Councilor Huang Chong-hui revealed that the student had previously insulted her.

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I must stand with him as he is currently being cyberbullied.

Despite the past insult, Huang Chong-hui has spoken out in defense of the student, who is now facing online bullying. She stated, "I think I must stand with him as he is currently being cyberbullied." Huang explained that the student's previous criticism was directed at her service center's perceived ineffectiveness in handling the issue of mandatory eviction of homeless individuals. She believes in addressing the issue itself rather than attaching labels to the person involved.

Huang described the student as a "pure piece of white paper," emphasizing that as a city councilor, she is accustomed to being criticized and understands the pain of online bullying. She stressed the importance of focusing on the specific issue at hand, stating, "It's just about the matter itself, and I won't label him because of it." Huang added, "We all hope society becomes better and more progressive. There will be times when you and I need help from others. When making friends, don't differentiate so much."

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It's just about the matter itself, and I won't label him because of it.

The online discussion also noted the irony of the situation, with some netizens pointing out that the student, allegedly associated with the "Little Grass" movement, had previously criticized "Blue Bird" activists. This has led to accusations of hypocrisy. However, Huang's intervention highlights a call for empathy and a focus on substantive issues over personal attacks and political labels.

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We all hope society becomes better and more progressive. There will be times when you and I need help from others. When making friends, don't differentiate so much.