100 Days On, Tibetan National Congress Marches in New York to Keep Lobga Rangzen’s Independence Call Alive
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 12 Oct: The New York and New Jersey chapter of the Tibetan National Congress marched from the Chinese Consulate to Times Square on 10 October, marking 100 days since its former president, Pawo (Martyr) Lobga Rangzen, set himself on fire outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Lobga Rangzen carried out the act on 2 July to draw international attention to China’s colonial rule in Tibet and the Tibetan struggle for independence—the commemorative march aimed to advance the political cause he championed as chapter president.
Participants wore placards bearing the message “Sacrifice Never Dies” and distributed informational booklets and flyers to pedestrians along the route. The materials outlined Tibet’s political status and advocated Tibetan independence, bringing the chapter’s campaign to a wider public.
Dekyi Tsering, the chapter’s current president, said Times Square was chosen as the final destination because it attracts people from diverse backgrounds from across the world, providing an opportunity to reach a wider audience and raise awareness about Tibet.
The march followed the chapter’s “Independence Walk: NYC–Philly–DC to Unwelcome Xi” in September, which was organised to protest Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, DC. The campaign reflected the chapter’s continued efforts to challenge China’s rule in Tibet and advance the independence cause that Lobga Rangzen had actively pursued.
As chapter president, Rangzen had worked to promote Tibetan independence through public rallies, the distribution of educational materials and outreach to American political leaders. The 10 October march continued these efforts, with members seeking to keep his political message alive and sustain international attention on Tibet’s struggle for independence.
Founded in 2013, the Tibetan National Congress is a political organisation committed to Tibetan independence and democratic principles.
