June has been a whirlwind of a month for SFT: protests, meetings, new interns, and more! As committed allies to the Tibetan Freedom Movement, thank you for supporting our work and enabling us to have such a fruitful month. Here are some of our June highlights:
We kicked off this action-packed month with the introduction of our summer interns – we have added interns to our campaigns, grassroots, communications, and graphic design team. Take a look at this collage to meet our intern team and see some of their on-the-ground work.
On June 6th, we had our monthly grassroots meeting with members from SFT Minnesota, Canada, University of Washington, and UC Davis chapters. Our summer interns had the opportunity to meet with our chapter-based network and learn more about the larger Tibet movement. During our meeting we strategized for the Global Day of Action, discussed the launch of the Mars Campaign, and announced SFT Minnesota’s first ever Bhoechella concert highlighting young Tibetan artists in diaspora.
Later in the month, SFT’s Campaigns Director, Pema Doma, spoke at RightsCon, joining fellow Tibet advocates from around the world to discuss the intersection of technology and the Tibetan Resistance. Pema, along with Campaigns Intern Siena also advocated for Tibet through the Tibet Advocacy Coalition. The TAC members, ahead of the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, briefed member states about the new research outlined in the report TAC published earlier this year.
June saw an unprecedented collaboration between pro-democracy groups across Asia. SFT worked to further develop our key alliances with pro-democracy and human rights groups in Myanmar, Thailand, and other Milk Tea Alliance countries. We organized and participated in virtual and in-person events which have furthered democracy and self-determination in Asia. For more information you can watch SFT Live-Episode 27. SFT staff also spoke at the Hong Kong movement’s 6/12 rally to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, a Milk Tea alliance rally in Washington DC, and a Thai rally in Washington Square Park.
Wrapping up the month on June 23 – International Olympics Day – SFT took a lead role in organizing the Global Day of Action against the 2022 Beijing Olympics, with 50+ protests and actions in 25+ countries around the world. From New York to Melbourne, Toronto to Paris, hundreds of Tibetan advocates marched alongside coalitions of Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Southern Mongolians, Taiwanese, and allies to speak out against the Genocide Games. The day was a huge success, and you can help carry on that momentum by signing our petition here demanding that Mars Inc. end their sponsorship of the Genocide Games.
Thank you for your solidarity and commitment to SFT and the Tibetan Freedom Movement. Together we will accomplish so much more. Stay tuned and follow SFT on social media to learn more about what happened in June and to hear firsthand what will becoming up in July!