Following the new of the Chinese government delivering a tax bill of 15 million Yuan ($2.4MUSD) to the highly coveted artist Ai Weiwei, thousands of people from around the globe have responded by contributing money in a profound gesture. Some 20,000 people and more than $840,000 within a week speaks volumes, while the total amount is three times the sum Weiwei was accused of evading in taxes in the first place that ended in a 81 day spell behind bars.

“It’s surprising; it has really changed my perspective on people,” he said in a telephone interview on Sunday, describing how scores of supporters, some of whom traveled from distant cities, have been delivering cash to his home.

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