The protests planned for Jiang

Thousands of Americans will be seizing the opportunity presented by President Jiang Zemin’s visit to the United States this week to express their outrage over human rights abuses in China and Tibet — abuses including the one-child-per-family policy, slave labor, sale of organs from executed prisoners and 50 years of Chinese military occupation of Tibet.

“We’re looking forward to this visit from the emperor of China,” one event coordinator said sardonically. “We’ll have something going on at every point along the way — from Honolulu back to Los Angeles.”

And every minute, too, it seems, with rallies in the daytime and candlelight vigils at night. The people putting this together represent an unprecedented coalition of groups, from all points on the political spectrum — International Campaign for Tibet, Amnesty International, AFL-CIO, Independent Federation of Chinese Scholars and Students for Democracy in China, the Family Research Council — the list goes on and on. Over two dozen groups have indicated their support of the demonstrations.

Clearly, the terms “liberal” and “conservative” do not apply. Actor Richard Gere is speaking at a rally held while President and Mrs. Clinton enjoy a formal luncheon with Jiang. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, is speaking at the “Let Freedom Ring Rally.” Ironically, Rep. Newt Gingrich applied pressure on his Republican colleagues to back off from a discussion of China’s human rights record until Jiang returns home — lest he is embarrassed.

A spokesperson for Family Research Council summed up that organization’s position — and it’s not just the government’s population control policies. “We generally address only domestic issues here,” said Kristen Hansen. “But we’re very concerned over the trade situation — treating China as though it were a normal trading partner. People hope that if we do, China will become more like us. But we’re seeing that it’s the other way around. Our country and our government is becoming more like China.”

Jiang’s weeklong state visit, beginning Sunday in Hawaii, is the first by a Chinese leader in 12 years. It’s the first U.S.-China summit since President Bush went to Beijing four months before pro-democracy demonstrators were run out of Tiananmen Square, with thousands killed by the Chinese military’s tanks and guns.

On Monday, while Jiang is traveling to Williamsburg, Va., the Christian Coalition will hold a prayer rally across the street from the White House South Lawn, where the Chinese president will receive a 21-gun salute and full state honors two days later.

The Tibet campaign is organizing the candlelight vigil outside the Chinese Embassy after his Washington arrival Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the day of the summit, a permit has been issued for up to 2,000 people to demonstrate across from the White House at Lafayette Park. Speakers include actor Richard Gere, a Buddhist and longtime follower of the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; former dissident Harry Wu; Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys; and John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, which objects to Chinese prison labor. Gere also hosts the Washington Hotel “stateless” dinner Wednesday night.

The Tibet campaign has rented a 15-passenger van to follow Jiang around the East Coast, from Williamsburg, to Washington, to Philadelphia on Thursday, Ackerly said. Local affiliates are organizing protests in New York City; in Cambridge, Mass., where Jiang will deliver a speech at Harvard University; and in the Los Angeles area, his last U.S. stop Nov. 2.

The Tibet protesters want China to engage in autonomy talks with the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959 after the communist government’s military put down a Tibetan rebellion. Bowing to pressure from Congress, Secretary of State Madeline Albright promised to appoint a coordinator by Nov. 1. The State Department indicates she hopes to make the deadline, but Tibet advocates are skeptical.

Details are still being finalized — with meetings being held this weekend. But here is a list of events compiled by WorldNetDaily Thursday.

Monday, Oct. 27: Honolulu — Jiang’s point of arrival in the United States. Demonstration planned. Joshua Cooper 808-734-0117.

Tuesday, Oct. 28: Williamsburg, Va. — Demonstration planned. Thomas Gallagher 757- 564-0085.

Washington, D.C. — Candlelight vigil and prayer service at the Chinese Embassy, 2300 Connecticut Ave., Washington DC. 6:30 p.m. ICT 202-785-1515.

Wednesday, Oct. 29: White House — “Let Freedom Ring” Rally across from the White House. Lafayette Park, 1600 block, Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. Sponsored by a coalition of organizations. Noon. ICT: (202) 785-1515. Speakers include: Richard Gere, actor and chairman of ICT Board of Directors; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; Harry Wu, Chinese dissident and author; Gary Bauer, president of Family Research Council.

Washington — “Stateless Dinner,” a contrasting event to the official White House State Dinner for Jiang, organized by the International Campaign for Tibet and hosted by Richard Gere. 7 p.m. Hotel Washington, “Washington Room,” top floor. 15th & Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Media space limited. ICT 202-785-1515.

Thursday, Oct. 30: Philadelphia — Rally at the site of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Carolyn Holland 215-824-2928.

Friday, Oct. 31: New York — Rally in New York. Paul Donowitz 212-533-5705.

Saturday, Nov. 1: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA — Ngawan Jordhen, 617-547-5481 or Metta McGarvey, 617-648-4456.

Century Plaza Hotel in Century City — though it’s unconfirmed if Jiang will be staying there. If he is, there will be a candlelight vigil.

Sunday, Nov. 2: Beverly Hills — Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., President Jiang is having lunch with business leaders. Tseten Panucharia 310-456-3320.

This report contains information obtained from the Associated Press.