Demonstrators met in front of the Chinese Embassy on Monday, June 2nd , from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to protest the deportation of 18 Tibetan refugees back to Tibet in Chinese custody. The refugees were deported despite strong international lobbying in support of the Tibetans.
The demonstration was organized by the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago. It was attended by around 100 Tibetans and Westerners from the Chicago area. There were also around 20 participants who made the 8 hour trip from Minnesota. The oldest participant was 56 years old, while the youngest, Tenzin Kunsel, was only 12. Two monks from Gyuto Monastery Center in Minnesota held the Tibetan national flag for three hours during the demonstration.
The President of the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago, Mr. Sherab Gyatso, gave a speech in English and Tibetan to explain the action taken on this day. Another member, Mr. Lobsang Gawa, gave a speech in Chinese. And Mr. Pepan gave a speech in Nepali.
