Berkeley
At 9 AM, Tibetans and supporters in hundreds gathered in front of the Berkeley City Hall where the official ceremony of hoisting of the Tibetan national flag took place with Berkeley city Councilmember Kriss Worthington raising the flag against a backdrop of marchers proudly singing the Tibetan national anthem. Minutes later, Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) president, Mr. Tenzin Tsephel la relayed the importance of March 10th, especially at such a crucial time when the Chinese government is violating completely the justice and human rights in Tibet . Mr. Kriss reemphasized the commitment he has for the freedom of the Tibetan people and the solidarity that he shares in that regard. Vice president Mr. Jayang la read out the statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama while president of TYC San Francisco, Mr. Dawa Dorjee presented the statement of TYC Centrex. The marchers marched through the streets of downtown Berkeley, chanting slogans throughout the procession. From downtown Berkeley Marchers took the train to San Francisco in order to catch-up the next event there.
Justin Herman Plaza
The marchers resurfaced in San Francisco after the morning event in Berkeley, most of them rode the subway. At 11 AM a sea of Tibetans and supporters in yellow protest shirts poured in through every corners of the Plaza, which is a section of one of the most attractive tourist sites of San Francisco — Fishermen’s Wharf. Being a Saturday appeared also a reason for the rising number of people, both pedestrians and marchers alike. Members of TYC San Francisco invited Kasur Tethong Tenzin Namgyal, former prime minister of Tibetan Government in Exile to highlight the importance of the day and also give the starting shot of the Peaceful Silent March to Chinatown. He applauded the participants for showing up to shoulder the collective struggle of the Tibetan people and encouraged to carry on and spread words to those who couldn’t make up today. It was followed by a detailed explanation of the route and the importance of the Peaceful Silent March through San Francisco Chinatown by the president of the regional TYC San Francisco. Mr. Dawa la made the point clear that in the wake of Beijing Olympic 2008, reaching out to the Chinese community and people is crucial. “We must invest on the freedom of this land of free and educate the historical truth about Tibet to the Chinese people with whom we have to live as neighbors forever.” He also said, “It is also a stern warning to Beijing that we will do everything within our reach to fight for freedom, justice and equality. After all we believe that sooner than later the Chinese people will wake up to the truth we have been calling for respect all these many years.” The March began around 11:30 AM, led by a group of dignified young Tibetans in traditional costumes of the three regions of Tibet, Utsang, Dotoe and Domey, reflecting the legitimately unified Tibetan nation.
Portsmouth Square, Chinatown
The demonstrators reached Chinatown’s Portsmouth Square around noon. Giovanni Vassallo, president of C100 & BAFoT explained the significance of demonstrating at the square. “It is fitting that we commemorate Tibetan uprising day here, as it is symbolic of our outreach to the Chinese people that we want peace and equality, just like they do.” He explained that in 1968, Chinese American civil rights protestors began a march for equality here at the Square and that it had also been used by June 4 Chinese democracy movement leaders. In fact, behind the demonstrators was an eight foot tall statue of “Lady Liberty” a symbol of democracy used at Tiananmen Square in 1989 and was cast in the same vein as New York City ‘s Statue of Liberty. Afterwards, Yangchen of Students for a Free Tibet spoke in Chinese about the meaning of March 10th and also read highlights from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s March 10th Statement in Chinese. A moment of silence followed for all those Tibetans who had died resisting the illegal occupation of Tibet. Then, Dr. Jong Chen, a Taiwanese community activist addressed the demonstrators. He had donated a huge banner with the phrase “Free Tibet” emblazoned upon it. He said, “Tibet is definitely its own country.” He expressed that Tibetans deserve freedom of speech expression, the freedom to use their own language, and freedom of religion. “Taiwan and Tibet are same, he said, as both are oppressed by the Chinese Communist Party. Only with the full implementation of democracy can the the Chinese and Tibetan people have a hopeful future.” His speech was followed by a speech by the President of the Burmese American Democratic Alliance, Mr. Nyunt Than. Mr. Than noted the similar situations Tibet and Burma faced. He noted that Communist China was the biggest ally of the Burmese military dictatorship, which oppressed its own people. “Burmese and Tibetans should work together more,” Mr. Than stated, “to bring about a more democratic Asia .” Chinese people around the Square could be seen listening to the speeches. The Tibetan National Anthem was sung and the demonstrators left to march through Chinatown on the way to San Francisco’s City Hall. Mr. Vassallo was left at the square answering a Chinese newspaper reporter’s questions. The result of that interview could be found in the Chinese language at: http://www.worldjournal.com/wj-sf-news.php?nt_seq_id=1500139.
City Hall
The Silent March from Portsmouth Square reached bottleneck at the exit gate of Chinatown and in seconds, slogans buzzed through the streets of metropolitan San Francisco coming to a slight halt at the City Hall. “China Lies, Tibetans Die,” shouted one young man carrying a Tibetan flag and wearing his traditional Tibetan dress. A series of slogans began to blast through the streets of the city center, “China out of Tibet, Tibet Belongs to Tibetans, and No Olympics in China .” The unified voice of close to four hundred Tibetans and supporters swept through the heart of SF Financial District. Pedestrians clapped with their smiling faces at u and many sympathized with the spirit with which Tibetan people steadfastly fight for truth through non-violent means. Tibet supporters, Doug Sibley from the United Methodist Church and John Hsieh from the Love of Taiwan spoke in solidarity of their support for Tibetan Freedom at the City Hall. Leaders of TANC, RTYC and SFT namely Tenzin Tsephel la, Dawa Dorjee la and Yangchen Lhamo la moved the Tibetan crowd with their heartfelt speeches. A group of singers led by Gen Nyima Gyalpo la presented three songs on Rangzen. It was a moving moment when the song, “Phayul De Nga Tso Tsangmai Rei” or “The Fatherland Belongs to All of Us”. The highlight of the stop was the political theatre presentation by a group of young Tibetan activists most of them in their early teens. They staged the horrendous Nangpala shootings that recently happened across the Nepal-Tibet border. On the big white background banner, made to resemble the snowy pass, a message stood big and clear with marks of blood stained hands, “Remember Nangpa la, Never Give up Freedom.”
Chinese Consulate
The raging crowd of protesters reached Chinese Consulate at 3:30 PM; the slogans blasting through bullhorns and sound truck. Young and old alike raised their voice for Tibetan freedom to an unprecedented level. One American observer summarized the scene as “surely there is no death to the spirit of Tibet”. Small breaks were taken during which statements from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the undisputed leader of Tibet, U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as Congressman Tom Lantos were read out. Also an American freedom singer, Mr.Bradford from Grass Valley presented his freedom songs which were received with explosive joy from the protesters. The statements of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressmen Tom Lantos are available on our website: www.freetibetmarch.org
Union Square
In the evening at 6 pm, at the very heart of San Francisco city, Tibetans and supporters attended a Candle Light Vigil to remember all the brave men and women of Tibet who had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and people. During the event, Mr. Dawa la, president of TYC San Francisco highlighted the importance of the Tibetan National Uprising Day saying, “The human shield formed by Tibetans during those days in March 1959 to protect His Holiness the Dalai Lama had in word and deed saved the most precious treasure of Tibet , Kundun. Those Tibetans who had lived ordinary life until then had in fact carried on the most extraordinary responsibility in the history of Tibetan people; their sacrifices had rekindled the spirit of Tibet to rebuild the nation, to intensify modernization of Tibet while preserving our age old tradition and to strengthen the integrity of our leadership. Today is the day we pay tribute to them. Without whom, none of us would have known how far we have reached and can go.” The candle Light Vigil concluded with Dentsek Monlam, (Prayer of the Truthful Words) and five minutes of chanting, “China out of Tibet, Tibet Belongs to Tibetans, Tibet will be free; we will never give up, Bho Gyal Lo!”
For more info please visit: www.freetibetmarch.org
