Washington, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
More than 2,000 Tibetans from across North America are expected to join Uyghur, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Southern Mongolian and Chinese democracy activists in Washington on Thursday to protest Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States.
The daylong mobilisation will feature demonstrations outside the Chinese Embassy, marches through central Washington, a rally near the US Capitol and an evening candlelight vigil at Franklin Park.
Organisers said the protests would raise concerns over political prisoners, religious freedom, transnational repression and what they describe as threats to Tibet’s cultural and linguistic identity under the Chinese government.
The mobilisation will begin outside the Chinese Embassy, followed by a march through Dupont Circle towards the Capitol. A coalition rally involving members of Congress and representatives of participating communities is scheduled near the Capitol in the afternoon.
Protesters will then proceed to Franklin Park for a candlelight vigil and community programme in the evening.
The Tibetan Youth Congress and the Capital Area Tibetan Association are leading the Tibetan mobilisation, with support from the International Campaign for Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet, the Tibetan National Congress and other organisations.
Speakers expected at the Capitol rally include Tibetan Youth Congress President Tsering Chomphel, International Campaign for Tibet President Tencho Gyatso and Capital Area Tibetan Association President Tenzin Norbu.
Representatives of other participating communities, including Omer Kanat, Frances Hui, Enghebatu Togochog and Shengchun “Sophie” Luo, are also scheduled to address the mobilisation. International Campaign for Tibet Executive Director Ryan Fioresi is expected to speak during the evening programme.
Organisers said the demonstrations would call for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama and other Tibetan political prisoners, as well as the resumption of dialogue between Chinese authorities and Tibetan representatives.
They are also demanding the repeal of laws and policies that they say promote forced assimilation and undermine distinct cultural, religious and linguistic identities.
Ahead of Xi’s visit, the International Campaign for Tibet joined a coalition of 30 human rights organisations in sending an open letter to the Chinese President.
The coalition called on China to release prisoners of conscience, end what it describes as transnational repression and take concrete steps to address concerns over its human rights record.
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