ITIM and IU-SFT Leaders Disrupt Speech by China's Ambassador

On February 22nd 2008, Gerry Baker (Vice President, International Tibet Independence Movement) and Mary Kate Oreovicz (President, Indiana University-Students for a Free Tibet) were successful in disrupting the speech of Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong who is China's Ambassador to the United States.

Baker and Oreovicz sat quietly in the back of a room with 200 college students and business leaders from Central Indiana also in attendance. Ambassador Wenzhong read a prepared speech for about forty-five minutes barely looking up from his notes, while Baker and Oreovicz waited for the right moment to take action.

Following his speech, Ambassador Wenzhong faced the audience and answered pre-submitted questions. When the Ambassador began speaking of improvements in human rights in China, Baker and Oreovicz had heard enough.

Baker then removed his work shirt and displayed a “Team Tibet 08” t-shirt. At the same moment, Oreovicz removed her sweater and displayed a t-shirt with a large image of Tibet's flag. Both individuals then stood up and unfurled a blue and white, 6-foot banner with the words “China Out of Tibet.” The World United Formosans for Independence-USA had given this banner to the International Tibet Independence Movement during the 2007 “March for Tibet's Independence.”

Upon seeing the banner, Ambassador Wenzhong was speechless. Persons in the audience also turned around and viewed the banner.

Less than a minute later, security and the police swarmed Baker and Oreovicz removing them from the room. As this happened, local and Associated Press reporters followed the two Tibet activists while audience members took pictures.

Outside the building, Baker and Oreovicz joined eight Tibetans from Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana who were standing in the frigid cold weather with signs and Tibet flags.

Shortly after this, Ambassador Wenzhong exited the building. The Tibet activists were about 50 yards from the Ambassador when this occurred. The slogans increased in volume and some of the Tibetans shouted in Chinese to the Ambassador.

Ambassador Wenzhong and his entourage then loaded into cars and vans. As they drove off, they stopped at a Stop Sign at the very corner where the nine activists stood with signs and the “China Out of Tibet” banner. The slogans increased in volume again with the Ambassador gazing in the direction of the activists.

As the audience exited the building, many took pictures of the activists, as did pedestrians walking on the university campus. Many individuals also gave the activists the thumbs up!

"Today was a success for the Tibet movement. With the 2008 Olympics getting closer, we must continue to put pressure on China at every opportunity by shining the spotlight on the human rights abuses happening each day in Tibet and all of China," said Oreovicz.

The Indiana University Kelly School of Business hosted the speech by Ambassador Wenzhong.