Dalai Lama Visit University of Washington Sparks Protests

The anticipation of the Dalai Lama's visit to the University of Washington Seattle was high especially for pro-China demonstrators, but not for the reason that you would think. These people could not wait to interogate him about his view on Tibet being seperate from China. However, previous to the speech of the Dalai Lama the attendies were instructed to ask non-political questions, as the Dalai Lama was not going to respond to them. As a result, some 500 protesters gathered outside of the hall where the Dalai Lama was speaking to protest his views on the split of Tibet from China. Pro-China semonstrators claim that the Dalai Lama wants Tibet to split from China, even though he has denied it saying he is for the unity of Tibet and China. The demonstrators did not buy into this however as they feel he is responsible for protests in Tibet demanding Tibet become ndependent from China. This arose much controversy, but the Dalai Lama was successful in his speech at the University due to no political questions being asked. (This was because the people asking the questions were assigned, and were students that could be trusted to stick to University appropriate questions.)

This can be compared to the student protests at Kent State during the Vietnam War. During the Vietname war students at Kent State led a protest agaisnt the war. As a result officials were called in to supress the protest asnd lives were lost of unarmed protesters. During this protest officials were called to suypress the unarmed demonstrators even though it is their right. At least no one was killed in this demonstration.