Over 3,000 Tibetans and Dissidents Protest Xi Jinping's Washington Visit
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More than 3,000 Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, and Chinese dissidents protested in Washington on September 24 during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit. Organizers called it the largest-ever Tibetan rally in North America. The demonstration unfolded as President Donald Trump hosted Xi at the White House for talks on AI, trade, and other issues.
Key Facts
- More than 3,000 Tibetans gathered in Washington on September 24 to protest Xi Jinping's White House visit, in what organizers described as the largest-ever Tibetan rally in North America.
- The rally was organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and supported by other Tibetan activist organizations.
- Protesters demanded that Trump raise human rights with Xi, that China release political and religious prisoners, and that Tibetans be allowed to preserve their language and culture.
- The demonstration expanded into a coalition that included Uyghur, Southern Mongolian, Chinese democracy, Taiwanese, Burmese, Falun Gong, and Chinese Christian groups.
- The rally began at about 9 a.m. outside the Chinese Embassy and moved toward the U.S. Capitol, with Connecticut Avenue closed to accommodate the march.
Protest Demands
Protesters demanded that Trump raise human rights with Xi, that China release political and religious prisoners, and that Tibetans be allowed to preserve their language and culture. The group also demanded the repeal of China's new Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, which took effect in July and promotes what Beijing calls a shared sense of identity among China's 56 ethnic groups. Tibetan activists say the law further advances Beijing's efforts to assimilate Tibetans into Chinese identity. Chinese authorities say the law protects minority rights while promoting ethnic unity.
March Through Washington
The rally began at about 9 a.m. outside the Chinese Embassy, where protesters gathered before marching toward the U.S. Capitol. Police were deployed around the demonstration as the crowd assembled. The protesters then moved through Washington, with Connecticut Avenue closed to accommodate the march. Tibetan protesters marched through the capital carrying Tibetan flags and signs reading 'Xi Jinping is guilty of genocide' and 'Tibet was never a part of China.'
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