Joseph Borawski, Friday March 11th 2008, 10:21 AM, Global Social Protests Current Event
This week in San Francisco, Tibetan immigrants who’ve been protesting Chinese control of their homeland vowed to make San Francisco the focal point of American demonstrations against the Beijing Games, as it is the only U.S. city hosting the Olympic torch relay this time around. On Monday demonstrators flew a Tibetan flag over the steps leading to the City Hall and held up a portrait of the Dalai Lama above banners saying “Olympics in China, Torture in Tibet” and “Truth is our only weapon.” They were also singing the Tibetan national anthem, calling on city officials to pass a resolution calling on China to improve conditions for Tibetans in their homeland.
A lot of this derision is focused towards Gavin Newsom, the Mayor of San Francisco, who has not yet commented. Protester Yangchen Lhamo said “San Francisco has always stood for freedom and human rights. But Gavin Newsom has clearly sided with China on this.” Monday which was also the anniversary of a failed 1959 Tibetan uprising that forced the Dalai Lama into exile, was used by Tibetan exiles around the world to protest this summer’s games. Demonstrations also happened in New Delhi, India, and Kathmandu, Nepal. China says it has ruled Tibet for centuries, although many Tibetans say they were essentially an independent state for most of that time, the International Olympic Committee has said the games are not a political tool and has declined to comment on China’s human rights record. Check it out here:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jSBr0yv3wAU0RhlDQEsktIpR1PvgD8VAU9J03
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