Xi Jinping’s U.S. Visit Unites Protesters

“There are hundreds and hundreds of activists —” Crowd: “Go home Xi Jinping!” “— who are coming together from all corners of this nation.” “We are really upset. Xi Jinping doesn’t deserve the red carpet reception.” Crowd: “We want freedom. We want freedom. We want justice.” “I am a Tibetan American.” “I’m Uyghur American.” “I was an anonymous activist during the height of the Hong Kong movement for democracy.” “The reason why some of us have come hundreds of miles is because Tibetans inside Tibet cannot say the simple two words: ‘Free Tibet.’” “This kind of protest where Xi Jinping is actually here in the U.S. is like once every decade or so.” “So our goal, what we want, is to be able to have that blip, that momentary second, where that message can be received to the architect of the policies that have deeply fragmented the way of life for people.” “The last time Xi Jinping was in the U.S., a lot of Hong Kong people, including myself, still had some of hope that perhaps Hong Kong would be able to fight for a sort of democracy and freedom. People I used to work with, you know, started getting arrested.” “One by one, our relatives, loved ones, friends that disappeared and we didn’t know what was going on. And then we heard about the concentration camps, but we had no idea, right?” “Since his last visit in the United States till now, we have just seen a rapid escalation of the tools and tactics to repress Tibetans.” Crowd: “Human rights in Tibet — free Hong Kong!” “Our issues are not as separated anymore, but it’s more about how marginalized communities can learn to use our voices to rise up together.” “If we don’t unite now, it will become too late for us to reverse the course of Xi Jinping’s actions and the policies that he hopes to implement.” “Community members, they can’t come because they’re afraid of retaliation by the Chinese government. But we need to, you know, take off from work, prioritize this, and be there and be their voice.”