When Archbishop Desmond Tutu received the International Campaign for Tibet\u2019s Light of Truth award in 2006, he drew on his experience dismantling South Africa\u2019s apartheid regime to appeal to Chinese oppressors of the Tibetan people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe used to say to the apartheid government: you may have the guns, you may have all this power, but you have already lost,\u201d Tutu stated. \u201cCome: join the winning side. His Holiness [the Dalai Lama] and the Tibetan people are on the winning side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tutu, an icon of nonviolence and spiritual leadership who helped bring down apartheid in his homeland and campaigned for justice around the world, died Sunday 26 December 2021 at age 90.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tutu received the Light of Truth award<\/a> 15 years ago for his significant contributions to public understanding of Tibet, which the government of China has brutally occupied for over six decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tutu\u2019s death on the day after Christmas was mourned by Tibetans across the globe \u2014 including his longtime friend and fellow Nobel Peace Laureate the Dalai Lama \u2014 who took inspiration from Tutu\u2019s moral vision and unyielding support for their cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tutu\u2019s dedication to Tibet was on vivid display in 2008 when he spoke alongside ICT Chairman Richard Gere at the Peace Rally and Vigil for Tibet<\/a> that brought thousands to San Francisco\u2019s United Nations Plaza during the run-up to the Summer Olympics in Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China will again host the Olympics in a few weeks for the 2022 Winter Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rally in San Francisco took place just before the Olympic Torch Relay passed through the city for its only stop on US soil that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his remarks, Tutu told the massive gathering, \u201cwhat we are saying to the heads of state, to President George Bush, is, \u2018For goodness\u2019 sake, don\u2019t go to the Beijing Games \u2026 for the sake of our children, for the beautiful people of Tibet. Don\u2019t go!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this year\u2019s Olympics, the Biden administration has already announced a diplomatic boycott: US officials will not travel to China for the Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other countries\u2014including Australia, Canada, Kosovo, Lithuania and the United Kingdom\u2014have also imposed a diplomatic boycott. However, some governments have refused, while others have not yet decided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the rally in 2008, Tutu reminded the crowd<\/a> that, \u201cit was people like you who demonstrated on our behalf, it was people like you who boycotted South African goods on our behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd today apartheid\u2014which at the time looked invincible\u2014is destroyed \u2026\u201d he said. \u201cI thank you for continuing that tremendous tradition to stand for freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch Tutu speak at the Peace Rally and Vigil for Tibet in 2008.<\/a>Olympics protest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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