Dharamshala — Tibetan-Americans including 82-year-old Dorjee Gyalpo began their "Peace Walk for a Free Tibet" from Saint Paul, the Capital city of Minnesota to Chicago, on August 5, 2026. They will arrive at the Chicago Chinese Consulate on the 49th day after Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen's self-immolation outside the United Nations, NY. The Peace walk is to honor Pawo Lobga Rangzen and amplify his final call for Tibetan independence and raise awareness on critical situation in Tibet.
Tibetan-Americans organised an event to launch “Peace Walk for a Free Tibet” at University of Minnesota Regent in Saint Paul, the Capital city of Minnesota, on August 5, 2026 and community members, Tibetan Buddhist monks, supporters, and elected leaders gathered at the State Capitol to send off the walkers. Minnesota State Senator Robyn Gulley and Jigme Ugen, President of the Tibetan National Congress, Tenzing Jigme, former MP of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and others delivered their speeches at the gathering.
"Today, among the participants in the "Peaceful Walk for a Free Tibet," the oldest is 82 and the youngest is 20,” said Lhathok Mayong Nyima, leader of the “Peaceful Walk for a Free Tibet” campaign and President of the regional Chushi Gandruk regional. "More than 171 Tibetans have sacrificed their lives through self-immolation in the struggle for Tibet’s freedom and independence, calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Therefore, we must continue to redouble our efforts to fulfill their wishes, transform the ‘R’ (refugee) on our foreheads into an ‘R’ (for “Rangzen”—independence), and bring His Holiness back to Tibet."
Jigme Ugen, President of the Tibetan National Congress, stated at the launch ceremony: “The Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen did not suddenly self-immolate. Day after day, he fought for the Tibetan cause, organised the Tibetan freedom movement, participated in protests against the Chinese government, ran marathons for Tibet, took part in hunger strikes, and devoted himself entirely to the Tibetan cause and Tibetan independence. Why did he self-immolate in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York?, it is because, even though the United Nations is well aware of what is happening in Tibet, no action has been taken to seek justice for Tibet.”
Senator Robyn Gulley, said, "They are walking for Pawo Lobga Rangzen, who self-immolated outside United Nations Headquarters in New York, and for the 170 other Tibetans who have self-immolated in protest against China’s occupation and destruction of Tibet. We must stand with the Tibetan people in their struggle for freedom, dignity, justice, and the right to determine their own future."
The organiser said, "On July 2, Lobga Rangzen, stood outside the UN Headquarters with the Tibetan flag and calling for Tibet's independence, then self-immolated. He was the first known Tibetan to self-immolate in the United States, and the 171st known Tibetan to self-immolate against Chinese rule. The walk comes as China intensifies efforts to erase Tibetan identity suppressing the Tibetan language, controlling religious institutions, separating children into colonial boarding schools, and criminalizing dissent at home and across the diaspora."
