By Mollie Rose Makover/Correspondent
Cambridge, April 9 – More than 40 Tibet supporters shaved their heads Wednesday in Harvard Square to mourn the deaths of Tibetan protestors killed in recent weeks in Tibet.
The demonstration also coincided with the arrival of the Olympic torch in San Francisco— its only U.S. stop.
“The torch is a symbol of peace for the people. If it enters Tibet there will be violence and people will die,” said Tenzin Soepa, a Boston resident.
Protestors wore the names and ages of people who died in the violence in Tibet following the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising March 10.
“The movement started in India where shaving your head is a sign of mourning. This is an act of self-sacrifice. We also want to show we stand with the Tibetan people,” said Tsepa Bayul, a demonstration participant and junior at Northeastern University.
Activists have been protesting the torch’s route since the flame set out on its 85,000-mile journey from Greece. Earlier stops in London, England, and Paris, France, produced large protests against Chinese human rights violations.
The event marks the 26th consecutive day of evening candlelight vigils held by Tibetans in Harvard Square. “We say prayers, hold signs, sing protest songs and hand out flyers and get petitions signed,” said Dhondup Phunkhang, one of the event organizers.
“People go to jail for having simply holding the Dalai Lama’s photograph – we share in their suffering,” said Sharlung Tenphel, a Tibetan monk.
