A few hundred Tibetan Americans chanted and danced and waved flags in front of the White House this morning in support of the Dalai Lama’s meeting inside with President Obama.
The president met with the religious leader despite warnings from China that it could damage relations with their nation. China has sovereignty over Tibet but many Tibetans, led by the exiled Dalai Lama, have been fighting for autonomy.
“China will listen to the U.S. president so he should take the initiative to make dialogue more constructive,” said Kalden Lodoe, President of the Capital Area Tibetan Association and organizer of today’s event.
Many of the demonstrators wore traditional Tibetan garb and stood in a circle, holding signs in both languages and fiercely waving Tibetan and American flags while children danced at their feet.
Some were from the Washington area but others had arrived on buses from New York and New Jersey. One sign read, “We extend our hearty thanks to the President of the United States for inviting the Dalai Lama.”
While demonstrators seemed hopeful of eventual change their expectations for the Dalai Lama’s visit remained low. “The meeting by itself will not have any strong effect but we want President Obama to have a strong stance on human rights in Tibet,” Lodoe said.