Tibetan activists protest Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Washington visit — in photos
Organizers estimate thousands are gathering to call attention to the ‘ethnic unity law’ and human rights.
ByRFA Tibetan
Updated 6:30 PM ET
Tibetans gathered near the Chinese embassy in Washington on Thursday to protest Chinese President Xi Jinping as he arrived on the South Lawn of the White House to meet with U.S. President Trump.
State dinner for China's Xi Jinping as Uyghur, Tibetan activists protest (RFA Video)
“He’s not welcome here,” Thondup Tsering, a former Tibetan parliamentarian for North and South America who was attending the protest, told Radio Free Asia.
“He’s not welcome because of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The policies that [he] has put in Tibet, which are aimed to wipe out Tibetan culture and Tibetan identity.”
Tsering traveled from Amherst, Massachusetts, to join the demonstration.
The demonstrators were bringing attention to China’s passing of the ethnic unity law in July, and the self-immolation of Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen in front of the United Nations.
“The main reason for this protest is that Xi Jinping cannot hear the voices of the people inside China,” said Chinese political activist Wang Dan, in comments sent to RFA.
“In fact, many people in China oppose the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. So I believe those of us overseas have a responsibility and an obligation to speak out for those who cannot speak freely inside China.”
Former House Nancy Pelosi addressed the protesters from a stage after they marched to the U.S. Capitol.
“It’s really important for elected officials and for the president of the United States and the president of China to hear what you have to say, because we put forth ourselves as a country who cares about human rights and respecting the dignity and worth of the people.”
Adds quotes from Wang Dan and Nancy Pelosi.
With reporting by Nordhey Dolma, Dolkar, Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan and Olivia Meng for RFA Mandarin. Edited by Charlie Dharapak.
tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks to Tibetan demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Advocates and human rights activists for Tibet protest near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Advocates for Tibet march near the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Supporters of human rights in Tibet gather near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington A large Tibetan flag is carried near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Tibetan protesters shout near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as they protest Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Supporters of Tibet gather near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Police watch as Tibet protesters march near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Activists for Tibet carry a banner with the image of Lobga Rangzen as they protest near the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Advocates and human rights activists for Tibet protest near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington Tibetan demonstrators march near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan) tibet-xi-jinping-protest-washington A Tibetan flag is carried during protest near the Chinese Embassy in Washington as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Sept. 24, 2026. (Nordhey Dolma/RFA Tibetan)
With reporting by Nordhey Dolma, Dolkar and Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Charlie Dharapak.
