Hundreds of Tibetans and their supporters will gather in front of the White House Monday to protest China’s recent actions against the Tibetan people and to implore President Bush to send a strong message to China by not attending the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games this summer in Beijing. After the 12:30pm rally in Lafayette Park, participants will march up Connecticut Avenue to the Chinese Embassy where they will demand that China dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

Organized by the Capital Area Tibetan Association and the International Campaign for Tibet, the demonstrations are in response to the Chinese government’s crackdown in Tibet — the worst since the 1960s Cultural Revolution. Since March 10, 2008, thousands of monks, and lay Tibetans have taken to the streets in Tibet to raise their voice against Chinese rule and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. For the first time since 1959, demonstrations spread throughout Tibet and are still sporadically continuing. The whole world is watching China’s response, and world leaders have come forward to support the Tibetan people in this time of crisis.

WHO: Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)
Namkha Tenzin, President, Capital Area Tibetan Association
John Ackerly, President, International Campaign for Tibet
T. Kumar, Amnesty International
Kathryn Porter, President of the Leadership Council for Human Rights
Hundreds of Tibetans from all across the East Coast, including 11 Tibetan Monks and their supporters

WHAT: A rally and march for the Tibetan cause appealing to President Bush to skip the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and appealing to China to open dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

WHEN: Monday, March 31 — 12:30-4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Rally – Lafayette Park
March — Leaving Lafayette Park, up Connecticut Avenue, ending in front of the Chinese Embassy, 2300 Connecticut Avenue