Tibetan activists protested against Chinese government's repressive policies in Tibet, at Old City Hall in Toronto, Canada on September 24, 2022. Photo: file

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New York — Tibetan activists from the US, Canada, Nepal, and India marked the 35th anniversary of Lhasa Peaceful Uprising Day by staging protests against the Chinese government's illegal occupation of Tibet. They expressed solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, stating, "Tibetans are suffering, dying, and committing suicide because of China's failed Covid-19 policy in Tibet.

On September 27, 1987, 21 monks from Drepung Monastery in Lhasa gathered in the streets, holding up the Tibetan national flag (the Snow Lion flag) and chanting slogans of “Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama” and “Free Tibet”. This led to nearly two years of demonstrations and protests, the arrest of thousands of Tibetans, and an unknown number of deaths.

A large-scale demonstration took place on China's national holiday in Lhasa on October 1, 1987, when monks from Sera Monastery decided to display the Tibetan flag and demanded Tibetan independence. The protests turned violent, with demonstrators overturning vehicles, setting fire to vehicles and the police station, and throwing stones at the police. At least six Tibetans died.

Around 50 monks from Drepung Monastery began protesting for the release of monks detained during the September 27 protests, while again calling for Tibetan independence. An overwhelming force of 250 armed Chinese police dispersed the peaceful demonstrations, beating the protesters with various weapons and arresting the monks.

The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RYTC) of New York and New Jersey, USA, held a peaceful demonstration outside the Chinese Consulate in New York on September 27, 2022, to commemorate the Lhasa Peaceful Uprising of the Tibetan people in Lhasa on September 27, 1987. They also protested against the Chinese government's failed Covid-19 policy in Tibet, the collection of DNA of Tibetans, and human rights violations in Tibet.

At a peaceful protest outside the Chinese Consulate in New York on September 27, 2021, protesters shouted slogans such as: China must stop taking DNA from Tibetans, boycott products made in China, United Nations, we want justice, Tibet was never part of China, Tibet belongs to Tibetans, Covid-19 made in China, China lies, Tibetans die, China lies, people of the world die, human rights in Tibet, China stops killings in Tibet, China stop the genocide in Tibet, release all Tibetan prisoners including the 11th Panchen Lama.

Tibetan activists and supporters marked the 35th anniversary of Lhasa Peaceful Uprising Day by holding protests against the Chinese government's repressive policies in Tibet, at Old City Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 24, 2022, as well as a candlelight vigil to express solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet. The event was organised by the Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario (CTAO), Dhokham Chushi Gangdruk and Tibetan Women's Association of Ontario, and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) of Toronto.

The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Samyeling, Delhi, organised a march and candlelight vigil to commemorate the Lhasa peaceful uprising of the Tibetan people in Lhasa on September 27, 1987.

The regional Tibetan Women's Association in Nepal also commemorated the Lhasa peaceful uprising of the Tibetan people in Lhasa on September 27, 1987.