Two members of Students for a Free Tibet held an open-air press conference in Beijing today at 2:35 pm outside the Jianguomenwai diplomatic compound. Briton Alice Speller, 25, and American Ginger Cassady, 30, vowed that the global movement for Tibetan freedom will continue until China ends its brutal military occupation of Tibet.

The press conference capped two and a half weeks of protests by Tibetans and their supporters in Beijing and a seven-year global campaign since Beijing’s Olympic bid to make China’s ongoing and brutal occupation of Tibet a critical issue for the current and future Chinese leadership. READ MORE HERE

At approximately 12:05 am Beijing time on Thursday, Florian Norbu Gyanatshang, a Tibetan-German man and three supporters were detained by Beijing authorities for protesting near the Bird’s Nest stadium.

They called out “Free Tibet” and Florian Norbu unfurled the Tibetan flag. They raised their fists in a salute in the spirit of defiance and resistance displayed by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.  Click here to read more.

Five pro-Tibet activists unfurled a banner spelling out “Free Tibet” in English and Chinese in bright blue LED “throwie” lights in Beijing’s Olympic Park tonight. The five were detained by security personnel after displaying the banner for about 20 seconds on August 19th. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.

Click here for read SFT's press release 
Click herefor complete coverage of the action on SFT's Olympic website
For continuing live coverage of global protests stay tuned to FT08.tv

Two pro-Tibet activists hung a banner in front of Chinese state television’s new headquarters early this morning. The activists dropped the banner, which read “Free Tibet” in English and Chinese, over an Olympics billboard reading “Beijing 2008” at 5:45 am Beijing time. Chinese security officials gathered quickly outside the China Central Television (CCTV) building, and after approximately 30 minutes, detained the five protestors. The activists have all been deported and are safely back in their home countries.

Click here for read SFT's press release 
Click here for complete coverage of the action on SFT's Olympic website
For continuing live coverage of global protests stay tuned to FT08.tv

Padma-Dolma Fielitz, a 21-year-old Tibetan woman from Germany, and a Canadian man protested near Tiananmen Square on August 10, 2008. They held the Tibetan national flag aloft before being accosted by Chinese security personnel.  As Chinese security tried to wrest the flags away, Padma-Dolma was seen being dragged roughly across the ground.

"Tibetans are being killed, silenced and marginalized, our precious religion strangled, as the Chinese government attempts to extinguish all trace of Tibetan identity," Padma-Dolma said before her action Sunday.  "I am protesting today to tell the world that, while it stares mesmerized at China's Olympic Games, my people are being crushed under the boot of Chinese oppression."

Watch the video of the dramatic protest.
Read more about Padma's protest and the supporters who helped her.

Chemi Dolkar, a 25-year-old Tibetan exile and current resident of Minnesota, flew to Beijing on August 6th, planning to speak out for Tibetan freedom and challenge the Chinese government to live up to its Olympic promises. She was detained upon arrival and held for 15 hours. As she was being deported from China, Chemi shouted in the airport, “Tibet will be free.”
Chemi arrives at in Minneapolis/St Paul at 2:02pm today by US Airways. 
Read the full press release here.

At just past 7pm, approximately one hour before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, three SFT activists staged a courageous protest near the Olympic stadium in Beijing. At the last major intersection on Beichen Road leading to the Olympic Park, the three men unfurled Tibetan national flags while wearing shirts reading "Team Tibet 08." They were tackled by Chinese security forces within seconds and forcibly detained; their whereabouts are currently unknown. CLICK HERE for more information, including a press release, photos and video of the protest, and photos and bios of the activists who undertook the protest.

Activists were outraged Wednesday morning, August 6th, when Chinese Consulate officials cut the climbing rope of a young Tibetan woman engaged in a nonviolent protest at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, causing her to fall more than 15 feet, striking a balcony below.

Click here to read SFT's full statement.
Click here for NBC 11 video coverage of the incident.

We are excited to launch SFT’s Olympics website – www.FreeTibet2008.org - and a powerful 4-minute Olympics campaign video about the power we have – as Tibetans, supporters, and people of conscience – to make history for Tibet at this crucial time.

The two Americans, Phill Bartell, from Denver, Colorado and Tirian Mink, from Portland, Oregan, arrived at San Francisco International airport last night, and Iain Thom and Lucy Marion, both British citizens, arrived in London this morning. All four were excitedly greeted by friends, family & members of the local Tibetan community.

“We know that change only occurs when people of conscience openly confront injustice, and as the Chinese government has done everything in its power to silence Tibetan voices at this critical moment, it is imperative that global citizens speak out.,” said Iain when he arrived.

Click here to read SFT's press release on the activists' return
Click here for complete info on SFT's Olympics campaign
Click here for a Times UK article on SFT's Olympics actions
Click here for the Washington Post's coverage of the action

Four Tibet activists from Britain and the United States were detained in Beijing today after unfurling Tibetan flags and two 140-square-foot banners outside the Olympic stadium. The first read, “One World, One Dream: Free Tibet” in English, and the second read, “Tibet Will Be Free” in English and “Free Tibet” in Chinese. The whereabouts of the activists are unknown.
Click here for more information
Click here for SFT's press release

We did it! The ad printed!

Thanks to your generous support we raised $51,000 to place our Athlete Wanted ad in the New York Times. You've helped us send this important message to Olympic Athletes and global decision-makers at this historic moment. The full-page ad printed in the New York Times on July 29th on page A9. Please view the ad in the Times, and share this exciting moment with all of your friends and family!

Click here to read the press release about the ad.
Click here to visit the Athlete Wanted website.