Hundreds of Minnesotans are joining protests against the Chinese government.
About 350 people loaded buses just before midnight Monday night in Saint Paul to head for the Tibetan embassy in Chicago.
They plan to protest the violence in Tibet.
“We’re going to Chicago, the Chinese counselor to tell them that we need our country back,” said Kunsang Lhewa a local protestor.
The Dalai Lama threatened Tuesday to step down as leader of Tibet’s government-in-exile if violence committed by Tibetans in his homeland spirals out of control.
He said that “if things become out of control” his “only option is to completely resign.”
Rallies have already been held Tuesday in Sydney, Australia and Seoul, South Korea.
The Lhasa protests led by monks began peacefully March 10th on the anniversary of a failed uprising in 1959 against Chinese rule.
They grew increasingly violent culminating Friday with widespread street violence in Lhasa the capitol of Tibet.
Chinese officials say 16 people died in the rioting in Tibet.
Exiled Tibetans say the number of people killed was 80.
The Chinese government claims the protestors are trying to undermine the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, which begin in August.
