[media-credit name=’YANA PASKOVA/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Despite snow showers and chilling winds, both Tibetans and supporters of the Tibetan freedom movement marched on the Capitol Square Thursday to commemorate the 46th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day and show support for Tibetan human rights and freedoms.

The march began at Library Mall and continued to the steps of the Capitol where Tibetan prayers were read and traditional Tibetan songs of freedom and hope were sung.

In a statement read before the crowd, the Dalai Lama marked Tibetan Uprising Day as a testament to the strength and resolve of the Tibetan people and recognized the heroism of the men and woman of Tibet who have lost their lives for the cause of freedom. He also expressed his willingness to work proactively with the Chinese government in order to secure a peaceful compromise that will protect the rights of the Tibetan people.

The day was also marked by the passage of Assembly Joint Resolution 18, which proclaimed March 10, 2005 as “Tibet Day.”

“This resolution honors the memory of more than one million Tibetans who have died in their struggle for the Independence of Tibet,” said state Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, a coauthor of the resolution.

“Human rights and freedom for Tibetans should be the concern of all freedom-loving people in this state and this country,” Parisi said.

State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, another coauthor of Resolution 18, praised the strong Tibetan community in Wisconsin and the belief in the creation of a Tibetan state ensuring the protection of the religion, culture and personal freedoms of the Tibetan people.

On March 10, 1959, nearly 100,000 Tibetan men, women and children were killed by the Chinese government after assembling around the Dalai Lama’s palace in Lhasa to protest the growing Chinese military presence in Tibet.

Since then, the anniversary has been marked by Tibetans and supporters worldwide.

Congress has enacted legislation recognizing the country as both an occupied country and the exiled Dalai Lama as its rightful leader.

U.S. Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc, and Herb Kohl, D-Wisc, both sent messages to be read to the assembled crowd, asserting the senators’ commitment to human rights worldwide and pledging their continued support for Tibetan freedom.

In his statement, Feingold stressed a need for the U.S. government to make the rights of Tibetans a top priority in U.S.-China relations.

Thursday’s event was organized by the Wisconsin Tibetan Association and University of Wisconsin Students for a Free Tibet.

“The political repression of Tibetans in their native land by the occupying Chinese is reprehensible,” Abigail Scott, a representative for SFT, said.

“We must stand with other nations around the world not only to voice our opposition of these actions, but to provide proper sanctions against those who perpetuate this cultural genocide,” she said.

SFT is an international chapter-based organization with groups presently operating in 650 schools in more than 30 different countries. The group campaigns for the political freedom of Tibet by increasing public awareness through grassroots organization and nonviolent direct action.