｜ angered the crowd. People yelled and even threw empty bottles at him in anger. But gradually, more and more people in the crowd began to see that there was no use prolonging the standoff. They echoed Chen Shih-meng’s suggestion and tried to calm the crowd, telling everyone not to let emotions get the better of them. The standoff finally ended, but it also prompted the formation of the 100 Action Alliance. Liao I-en, the first secretary-general of the Taiwan Association of University Professors and a professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Chung Hsing University, recalled that after the September 8 march, he began to seriously consider the feasibility of an “anti-military parade” campaign. He found the idea bold yet very creative. October 10th, the National Day of the Republic of China, was the grandest and most solemn annual event for the authoritarian regime. 1991 also happened to be the 80th anniversary of the ROC. To “showcase national prestige”, celebrations were expanded to include the so-called “China Unification Drill”. 12,566 soldiers were mobilized for the drill, making it the largest every National Day military drill to date. For the first time, the military parade would feature a 24-by-18 battalion of soldiers all armed with domestically produced T65 assault rifles. The battalion would march in formations, creating a magnificent military display. The military parade was a demonstration of the nation’s military strength, analyzed Liao I-en. It demonstrated the authority of the supreme commander of the three armed forces. Therefore, to protest against the military parade was not only a difficult and dangerous affair, but also a direct provocation of the supreme commander of the three armed forces. No one had ever proposed such an idea before. Therefore, Liao I-en believed, protesting against the military parade with an organized and peaceful sit-in could create the leverage to amplify the strength of the opposition movement. On September 15, Liao I-en, Chen Shih-meng, Chang Ching-hsi, Kenneth S. Lin, Lin Ferng-Ching, Chang Wei-chia, Hsu Jui-feng, Chien Hsi-chieh, Luo Wen-chia, Chung Chia-pin, and Chen Cheng-jan met September 13, 2021: Chang Wei-chia recalling the 100 Action Alliance. Photographer: Huang Yen-wen September 16, 2021: Liao I-en recalling the 100 Action Alliance. Photographer: Hsu Po-hsin Anti-Military Parade, Anti-Article 100 of the Criminal Code — An Unprecedented Protest Model 92 Chapter 3 ｜ Protest: The Crucial 20 Days October 8, 1991: Lee Chen-yuan, Liao I-en, and Luo Wen-chia speaking before the Legislative Yuan. Photographer: Pan Hsiao-hsia at the Wistaria Tea House. In this meeting, Liao I-en proposed the idea of protesting against the military parade. Liao I-en recalled in an interview that, after a heated discussion, everyone agreed that the “anti-military parade” campaign was feasible. Most activists agreed that protesting against the military parade should be a bargaining chip and means of resistance. However, the main goal of the protest and the nature of the movement should still focus on securing the release of political prisoners. But Chang Chia-wei and Lin Ferng-Ching believed that limiting the demands of the protest to the release of political prisoners would narrow the stance and positioning of the movement. It also did not address the heart of the issue, making it harder to gain public support and effectively mobilize society. After some brainstorming, the group decided to continue to uphold demands of the wave of student protests in May when Article 100 of the Criminal Code was not abolished along with the Betrayers Punishment Act. They decided to form the 100 Action Alliance, focusing on opposing the military parade and Article 100 of the Criminal Code as their main demand. For the protests, they insisted on an approach of “love and non-violence”, inviting “well-respected” individuals in society to lead the event to expand the alliance’s appeal and influence. 93