Dozens of Utahn’s gathered this morning to help Free Tibet.
That’s because it’s the 46th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising, where thousands of Tibetans demonstrated against the Chinese invasion… and were killed.
Amanda was at today’s ceremony and joins us with more.
Not just in Salt Lake — around the world — wherever there are Tibetan Communities are protesters like this raising awareness to Free Tibet.
In Utah there is a small, but strong, Tibetan community, of about 150…
And most of them gathered this morning to commemorate the day 46 years ago where so many like them sacrificed their lives.
After a moment of silence honoring those who’ve died — Tibetan songs were sung, including Tibet’s national anthem, and some of the first Tibetans to come to Utah spoke about freeing their country.
Among the crowd, students and professors from local colleges.
(Jennifer Morrison/Student Westminster College:) “I’M HERE BECAUSE 40 PEOPLE BEING KILLED IN TIBET BY THE CHINESE IS OUTRAGEOUS.”
(T.J. Chagzoetseng/Utah Tibetan Association:) “TIBETAN SHOULD HAVE AUTONOMY TO PRESERVE OUR OWN CULTURE AND RELIGION, AND DETERMINE OUR OWN COUNTRIES AFFAIRS.”
After songs, and speakers, the group marched with their sings, and chanting, down to the Salt LAke City County Building.
On this anniversary the Dalai Lama always issues a statement to Tibetans — words of encouragement, comfort — and note that the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama do not want complete independence from China — they are committed to the to the ‘Middle Way Approach’ where they would remain within China, but have freedom over their religion and culture and way of life.
