March 10th: I am Tibetan because

Tibetans in NYC on March 10th express their Tibetan pride. Since the “I am Tibetan” video from Amdo, Tibet uploaded to YouTube, Tibetans around the world have been responding with similar videos and messages. Watch SFT India’s video.

‘March 10 Because I [heart] Tibet’ in the USA

Boston, MA

The Tibetan National Flag flies atop the Boston City Hall

Miami, FL

Florida International University holds an SFT informational table and collects petition for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

Chicago, IL

Madison SFTers take over Chicago!

I Love Tibet

Thumbprint & signature petition for the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

Portland, OR

March 10th declared ‘Tibet Awareness Day’ by Mayor of Portland

The Tibetan National Flag flies high in Portland City Hall

Washington, D.C.

Tibetans and supporters hold a rally and Candle light Vigil at the Chinese Embassy

Salt Lake City, UT

March 10 Because I Love Tibet

March 10th NYC

This March 10th in New York City, around 1,500 Tibetans & Tibet supporters gathered to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day. After marching across the Brooklyn bridge this morning to the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in front of the United Nations, we continued on to the Chinese Consulate. This evening starting at 5pm, we will gather for musical performances and speeches to end the day.

Tibetans & Tibet supporters gathered this morning at 8am in Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn.

Crossing Brooklyn Bridge

Marching through Chinatown

SFT USA Grassroots Director, Tenzin Dolkar, talks with the media in front of the UN

Video & more to come soon!

Press Release: Global Demonstrations Mark Tibetan Uprising Day; New Resistance Movement Takes Root In Tibet Despite Continued Repression

STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET

For Immediate Release:
March 10th, 2010

Contact: Tenzin Dorjee, +1 646-724-0748
Kate Woznow, +1 917-601-0069

GLOBAL DEMONSTRATIONS MARK TIBETAN UPRISING DAY; NEW RESISTANCE MOVEMENT TAKES ROOT IN TIBET DESPITE CONTINUED REPRESSION

New York – Thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in dozens of countries will take to the streets today, March 10th, to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day and to show solidarity with a new nonviolent resistance movement gaining momentum in Tibet. Today also marks two years since monks began protest marches in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, that sparked the largest uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet since 1959. Chinese security forces are now a permanent presence in Tibetan towns and villages and a new “Strike Hard” campaign was launched in Lhasa in advance of this sensitive anniversary with hundreds of Tibetans being interrogated and harassed in recent days.

Tibetans and Tibet supporters in at least 100 cities worldwide, including in the USA, Belgium, Poland, UK, France, Germany, India, Australia, and Taiwan are marking the historic day fifty-one years ago – when Tibetans rose against Chinese rule – with protests, marches, candle light vigils, and government lobbying initiatives. In response to a new “I am Tibetan” campaign originating from Tibet, Tibetans in exile will also be recording messages of support dedicated to Tibetans living inside Tibet as part of their Tibetan National Uprising Day activities (1).

“In spite of China’s repression, there is a powerful new movement being led by the young generation inside Tibet. They are using creative, non-violent tactics to empower themselves and their communities and to challenge Chinese rule,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “March 10th is a day for Tibetans everywhere to be proud of being Tibetan – proud of our ancestors who died protecting our homeland, proud of our brothers and sisters inside Tibet who continue to resist Chinese oppression, and proud of the new generation of Tibetans who are raising the flag of Tibetan freedom around the world.”

China has heightened security in Tibet in advance of today’s anniversary with journalists and most foreigners effectively barred from the region. Tibet advocates have also noted increased efforts by the Chinese government to silence international support for Tibet in recent days. Tibetan refugees have been preemptively arrested in Nepal, and in the United States, Chinese officials have attempted without success to pressure municipal governments to revoke annual proclamations of support for Tibet.

“As the Chinese government continues its brutal repression inside Tibet, we call on leaders of free countries to take new, bold and coordinated approaches to help secure a just and fair resolution for the Tibetan people,” said Kate Woznow, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet.”

Note to editors
(1) Examples of the “I am Tibetan” movement include a homemade video from eastern Tibet posted to YouTube in late December, 2009 titled “I am Tibetan” as well as poems and a hip hop music video posted online by Tibetans that have been translated here: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/03/new-generation-hip-hop-music-video-from.html and here: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/02/i-am-tibetan-by-woeser.html

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March 10th, 2010 Updates via Twitter

Please share your updates, mobile photos, breaking news, or inspiring moments from March 10th, 2010 (or the lead up to). Use the #m10tibet hashtag in your tweets and your updates will appear on the M10 twitter wall above.

Example: 500 Tibetans and supporters just arrived at City Hall to commemorate 51 years of resistance to China’s occupation of Tibet. #m10tibet

You can also tweet photos to the M10 twitter wall using Twitpic, Yfrog, and Tweetphoto.

To view tweets older than 24 hrs click here

March 10th: Because I Support Tibet

March 10th: Because I am Tibetan

Videos from Tibet Lobby Day 2010

Nyamgyal from Colorado talks about her experience at Tibet Lobby Day 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

SFT intern Stef from Tennessee talks about her experience at Tibet Lobby Day 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Khedup a representative of Wisconsin, speaks about his experience at Tibet Lobby Day 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

NEW:SFTtv: Season 2, Episode 2

Update from HQ in NYC by Tendolkar and Schuyler. Please share this video below.

SFTtv: Report from the White House during Obama – Dalai Lama Meeting

SFT TV’s Tendolkar interviews people who have gathered in front of the White House to welcome the historic meeting between the Dalai Lama and Presdient Obama.