Dharamshala — When Xi Jinping's arrival in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, the Tibetan Youth Congress, Students for a Free Tibet, the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, and the International Tibet Network jointly protested against his visit. Demonstrators displayed banner reading: “You are not welcome in the USA,” “Free Tibet,” and “China out of Tibet now,” along the route of Xi Jinping to the hotel.
When Xi Jinping's arrival in Washington, D.C. on September 23, 2026 (local date), Tibetans from the Tibetan Youth Congress, Students for a Free Tibet, the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, and the International Tibet Network strongly protested against his visit in Washington, D.C from September 23 to September 25, 2026. The protestors displayed banner reading: “You are not welcome in the USA,” “Free Tibet,” and “China out of Tibet now,” along the route of Xi Jinping to the hotel.
The Tibetan Youth Congress (Centre) released a statement regarding the Xi's visit and it states,"Tibet has been under Chinese occupation for decades, and recent policies, such as the newly implemented 'Ethnic Unity Law', are accelerating the assimilation of Tibetans. These policies include separating children from their families, restricting the Tibetan language, and attempting to erase Tibetan civilization. Even carrying a picture of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama can result in imprisonment. Over 170 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest, demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Notably, on July 2, 52-year-old Tibetan Lobga Rangzen self-immolated in front of the United Nations in New York, becoming the first Tibetan self-immolation on U.S. soil. His protest was a powerful demonstration of his opposition to China's illegal occupation of Tibet and its oppressive policies."
Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) President Tsering Chomphel states that, "the Tibetan Youth Congress unequivocally condemns this visit and urges global leaders to recognize that China's diplomatic assurances cannot be taken at face value when its actions continue to contradict its words. Tibetans will persist in speaking truth to power and demanding justice, freedom, and the restoration of Tibet's rightful independence."
Tibetans from across North America will convene in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 2026, for a "Free Tibet Rally" to raise their voices against the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the TYC, the rally for a "Free Tibet" in Washington DC will begin with a protest at the Chinese Embassy followed by a march to the US Capitol grounds, where Congressional leaders, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jim McGovern and other guests will speak. This will be followed by a candlelight vigil with Uyghur, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Chinese Democracy groups at Franklin Park where the day's program will conclude. It is estimated this rally will draw around 5000 Tibetans and Tibet supporters to the capital.
"The Tibetan Youth Congress believes that meaningful engagement between Washington and Beijing must not come at the expense of the voices and rights of Tibetans and other oppressed peoples. Tibet must not be erased from the Trump-Xi agenda. The Tibetan Youth Congress calls upon the United States to seize this moment to uphold the principles of freedom, human rights, and self-determination and ensure that the Tibetan people's voices are heard," the TYC said.
