NEW YORK, NY, March 30: Protesters are walking 230 miles from NYC to Washington DC starting March 30, 2008, to ask Congress for help with the Tibet crisis. The walk is expected to take about 14 days, and the walkers hope to raise awareness of the Tibetan crisis.
On Sunday, March 30th, at 12:00 noon, 8 individuals will begin a 230-mile walk from the Chinese Consulate in New York City to speak with the Congress in Washington, DC about the plight of the Tibetan people. The goal of the walk, which is expected to take approximately 14 days, is to raise awareness of Tibet’s current crisis, and to ask Congress for help with the ongoing oppression of Tibetans in their homeland and around the world.
Violence erupted in Tibet after monks staged protests on March 10, the anniversary of a failed uprising against China. Since then, 140 Tibetan civilians have been killed, and at least 660 protesters have been jailed. In addition, Tibetan citizens are virtual prisoners in their own homes, with limited access to food and other necessities. The conditions of Tibetan natives are extremely poor, and are rapidly deteriorating.
The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, has been accused by the Chinese government of masterminding the violent protests. The Dalai Lama, meanwhile, has called for an end to violence, and has threatened to resign his position if Tibetan demonstrators continue to use violence. The New York protest walkers are calling for justice and are requesting a dialogue between The Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. It is their hope that they will be joined by others during the course of the walk to Washington.
The protest walkers are Yeshi, Jigmee Lodir Rinpoche, Tsi Chum, Rik Zin, De Chen, Zo Pa, Dar Jee, and Mikell Bursky. Bursky is a 19-year-old American from Nyack, NY, who feels that it’s time to put personal goals aside in order to do what he feels is right. “The suffering has to stop,” he declared, speaking of the crisis facing Tibetans around the world.
Contact Information: Yeshi (team leader), (845) 480-2996; Mikell Bursky (845) 642-9061
