Free Tibet movement marches in Philadelphia to mark 1959 uprising

    Philadelphia area Tibetans marched from Chinatown to Independence Hall today to commemorate the anniversary of the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against China. China invaded neighboring Tibet nine years earlier.

    Philadelphia area Tibetans marched from Chinatown to Independence Hall today to commemorate the anniversary of the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against China.

    China invaded neighboring Tibet nine years earlier.
    Meggan Kole has more [audio:100310MKTIEBET.mp3]

    Dozens of Tibetan’s and supporters chanted Human Right’s Now on Market Street. Children as young as two, waving Tibetan flags and dressed in traditional clothes called for the United Nations to “wake-up” and help the people of Tibet regain independence.

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    Jeff Garnett has been a part of the Free Tibet movement since the 1970’s. He says it’s important to keep the Tibetan independence movement alive.

    Garnett: We believe that it brings awareness not only in the Western population , but hopefully also in the Chinese population. We view the issues in Tibet as basic human rights issues. We believe that the Chinese  in China are also suffering from the same deprivation of their human rights.

    The Tibetan-American population is very small. Less than 30-thousand Tibetans live in the United States. Only about 100 live in the Philadelphia area.

    The United States officially views Tibet as part of China, and advocates a diplomatic solution between Chinese authorities and representatives of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

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