Chicaho, IL. – More than 50 Tibetan and Tibet-supporter Cubs fans will attend the Cubs v. Mets game on Saturday, August 4, at Wrigley Field to bring awareness of China’s atrocious human rights record to the sporting world. August 8 marks the one-year countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and similar actions will take place on August 4 in baseball stadiums in New York, Toronto, Oakland, Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, Washington, Seattle, San Diego, and Los Angeles.
The Associated Press reported on July 10 that China’s run-up to the 2008 Olympics is “a marathon through a human-rights minefield.” The action in Wrigley Field is meant to call attention to the 2008 Olympics and to stand on the side of “Team Tibet” – those who advocate for human rights changes in Tibet and China.
“When China was selected to host the 29th Olympics, there was much talk about the legacy it would leave – an improved international image. Now, with one-year to the Olympics and no improvements in human rights, it would be a miracle if China demonstrated greater respect for human rights. While we hope for a miracle, we know China has a history of making promises it will not keep. In 2008, we will witness yet another of China’s deceptions,” claimed Tenzin Wangyal, the Secretary of the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago.
The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago, International Tibet Independence Movement, International Campaign for Tibet, and Students for a Free Tibet are coordinating the “Team Tibet” action at Wrigley Field.
Fifty Tibetans and Tibet supporters mostly from Chicago will be seated in Sections 438 and 538 wearing bright yellow “Team Tibet” T-shirts.
“While at the game, Tibetans and Tibet supporters from Chicago will display colorful banners rooting for the Cubs and ‘Team Tibet.’ They also will raise questions about the appropriateness of China hosting the Olympics given its brutal human rights policies and actions in Tibet and in all of China,” said Benjamin Cox, a Chicago resident and Board Member of the International Tibet Independence Movement.
“Ideally, the Olympics symbolizes the display of excellence in physical ability and mutual understanding between people and Nations. China must accept the political aspirations of Tibetans and also their legal right to have a “Team Tibet” participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” stated Professor Larry Gerstein, President of the International Tibet Independence Movement.
Other organizations taking part in the August 4 baseball action include International Campaign for Tibet, Capital Area Tibetan Association, Committee of 100 for Tibet, Los Angeles Friends of Tibet, San Diego Friends of Tibet, TIBETmichigan, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress-Seattle, Bay Area Friends of Tibet, Tibetan Association of Northern California, Wisconsin Tibetan Association, Tibetan Association of Minnesota, Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, Tibetan Association of Southern California, and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress-San Francisco.
More information: www.rangzen.org or Larry Gerstein (rangzen@aol.com; 317-506-2249) or Benjamin Cox (benjaminmcox@hotmail.com; 773-398-1178).
