Dharamshala, 5th October: Around 1,000 protestors from Tibetan, Hong Kong, Uyghur, and Chinese activist groups gathered in central London to rally against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its campaign of human rights violations as the party marked its 72nd anniversary. The global rally, branded as ‘Resist the CCP Day,’ brought together nine organizations in solidarity, including Free Tibet.

From 18:30, the protest began as a stand-alone event at Piccadilly Circus, with remarks from Finn Lau (Stand With Hong Kong) and Benedict Rogers (Hong Kong Watch). Following that, a march was held across London, culminating at the Chinese Embassy in Portland Place. Protesters chanted outside the embassy: “Tibet must be free, and Hong Kong must be free! East Turkestan must be liberated! Defy the CCP!” Additional statements were given, including one from a 15-year-old Tibetan and Sam Walton of Free Tibet.

The CCP has dominated China and its seized regions for 72 years, supervising a wide spectrum of human rights violations. Basic rights and liberties are denied in Tibet, which has been colonized by the CCP since 1950. Tibetans are not allowed to express any political opinions other than those that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorizes, and they are not allowed to practice religion on their own terms, instead of having to adhere to a CCP-approved ‘sanitized’ version of religion that is centered on party officials. Tibetans are also prohibited from having a photograph or painting of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s major spiritual and cultural leader, by law.

In addition to Tibetans, the CCP has committed human rights violations against Hongkongers, Uyghurs, Mongolians, and a slew of other colonized peoples, including the majority of Han Chinese. The rallies in London were part of a worldwide series of Resist the CCP Day protests, in which groups stood up to oppose the Party and its policies.

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