Area Tibetans and local supporters on Tuesday will commemorate the 67th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising and Tibetan Women’s Uprising with flag raisings, speeches and songs in Amherst, Northampton and Easthampton, and a march through Hadley.
Starting at 9 a.m. on the steps of Amherst Town Hall, the Regional Tibetan Community of Western Massachusetts will kick off Tibet Day with its expression of solidarity for the Tibetan peoples in exile across the world.
The event will include the raising of the Tibetan flag, the reading of the Town Council’s proclamation, songs of protest and remembrance and speeches by community leaders, including Yonten Gyatso, president of the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts , and state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst.
The proclamation councilors adopted references the nearly 91-year-old Dalai Lama’s long-term exile from the country due to Chinese occupation and urges governments across the globe to take stronger multilateral action in response to unprecedented human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese government.
Councilors will participate as they have each year since the new government began in 2018.
“It presents a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the Tibetan community’s robust contributions to the diversity of our culture and traditions throughout the Valley,” Council President Mandi Hanneke said. “We continue to stand with our neighbors and friends to acknowledge the Tibetan American community’s fight for justice as we look forward to a better future.”
Following the walk along Route 9 in Hadley, the Tibetan community will have similar events at Northampton City Hall at 2:30 p.m. and then at Easthampton City Hall at 4 p.m.
Speakers will include Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby, Koby Gardner-Levine, the regional manager for the Northampton office of U.S. Rep. James McGovern, and Kristen Elechko, the western Massachusetts director for Gov. Maura Healey’s office.