Tibetans in the Madison community protested the Chinese occupation of Tibet Saturday to commemorate the 53rd Tibetan Uprising Day anniversary.
Around 150 people sang songs and listened to speeches dedicated to Tibetan protestors who took the streets on March 10th, 1959, against the People’s Liberation Army of China’s invasion and governmental control of Tibet.
Protestors also raised a Tibetan flag at the City-County building to honor the 25 Tibetans who lit themselves on fire in protest over the past two years.
Speakers read supportive letters from U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., and U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi told the protestors he was proud to represent a county with approximately 500 Tibetans in the community.
“Tibet has become something that will never disappear because it is spread out across the world,” Parisi said. “And one day, when Tibet is free, we’ll be able to fly these flags in Tibet without fear of being marched away to jail, without fear of being beaten.”
Following the speakers, protestors marched around Capital Square waving Tibetan flags and shouting “China, out now.”
Wisconsin Regional Tibetan Youth Congress President Kunchock Gonpo said by raising awareness in the U.S. through protests, he hopes to see an independent Tibet in the near future.
“People inside Tibet, they can hear our voice,” he said. “Through our love for Tibet, aspirations and creative resistance, we are sending our message that a free Tibet is possible.”
UW Students for a Free Tibet member Tenzin Kunga said education is the key to one day freeing Tibet. He said despite the relatively small Tibetan community at UW-Madison, the 20 students have plans to educate the campus, such as screening Tibetan documentaries.
Kunga said the organization plans to have future discussions regularly with Chinese, Mongolian and other minority students to promote awareness and abolish misconceptions about Tibetan discrimination against Chinese people.
“We also want to reiterate we are not against the Chinese people, it’s against the government’s policies and how the government is going about controlling Tibet,” Kunga said.
