The National Human Rights Museum (NHRM) held the opening ceremony for the “Break Through the Blockade: Post-war Blacklist Special Exhibition (突破封鎖線 戰後黑名單特展)” on Nov. 12 at the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park in Taipei. The exhibition reveals the blacklist system implemented during the martial law era and its impact on democratic values.
The opening event was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang, Legislator Ngalim Tiunn (張雅琳), and NHRM Director Hung Shih-fang (洪世芳), as well as political victims and their families.
Hsueh Hua-yuan (薛化元), the exhibition curator, noted that the existence of the blacklist system, which interfered with people’s freedom of movement, signifies one of the most important human rights issues in Taiwan’s history. He said that the exhibition aims to increase public awareness about democracy, especially among the young generation.
Deputy Culture Minister Wang lauded the NHRM for exhibiting the historical records and archives about blacklisting, an action that usually served as a political control by the authoritarian regime in the past, to increase public awareness. She added that only if more people get a better understanding of Taiwan’s past can they realize how valuable this country’s democracy and freedom are today.
This exhibition runs until Oct. 12, 2025. For more information, visit the NHRM’s website or Facebook page.