NEW YORK—While the 2008 Beijing Olympics Torch Relay travels the world finding protests almost everywhere it goes, another torch will be visiting New York City this weekend—the Human Right Torch Relay.
"We're bringing awareness of human rights abuses in China as the Olympics comes to China," said Ben Zgodny, a volunteer coordinator for the Human Rights Torch Relay's visit to Manhattan. "China promised to improve its human rights after having been granted the Olympic charter but it's been clearly reported that China's human rights have actually worsened because of the Olympics."
Already having visited more than 100 cities around the world, far more than the official Olympics torch, the Human Rights Torch is shining a light on the Chinese Communist regime's abuses against a variety of ethnic, religious, and political groups—the recent violence against Tibetans among the most prominent.
One of the torchbearers in the New York City leg of the relay will be Sonam Wangdu of the Tibetan Youth Congress.
"I as an individual citizen have a duty towards my nation and other fellow citizens and I take this torch on behalf of all the Tibetans in and outside Tibet. Especially after the recent genocide in Tibet by the Chinese government, it becomes more important for a Tibetan to embrace this human rights torch and expose the true color of the Chinese government," said Wangdu, in an email statement.
The torch run will start with a short ceremony at 10:15 a.m. at 77th Street and Central Park West, complete with ceremonial "Greek goddesses." Five runners with torches will then run down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, and then down Broadway to Union Square, where there will be an all-day rally and festival.
"There will be a compilation of organizations, with information tables about human rights and freedom in China. Different speakers will be voicing concerns about human rights abuses in China and different musicians, who have the heart to, will perform," said Zgodny.
The runners for the New York City visit of the Human Rights Torch Relay will include runners representing Tibetans, Falun Gong, Christians in China, and the crisis in Darfur, which the Chinese government has largely been complicit in.
According to their website, the Human Rights Torch Relay "strongly condemns the Chinese regime's ruthless crackdown in Tibet, arrest of 1,878 Falun Gong followers, support of corrupt regimes in [Burma] and Darfur and persecution of Christians, lawyers, reporters, and all who have suffered as a result of Beijing's pre-Olympics whitewash."
The relay was initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong. Zgodny himself got involved as a Falun Gong adherent himself. Zgodny said he started practicing the spiritual practice eight years ago and reports "better health" and a "higher standard of living." The peaceful practice was banned in China in 1999 after a quick rise to popularity throughout China in the 1990s.
To confirm the torch route email benzgodny@hotmail.com