Wisconsin activists and students gathered Saturday morning to advocate for human rights and political change in Tibet on the anniversary of an uprising in the disputed territory.

March 10 marked the 53rd anniversary of the Tibetan uprising, when Tibetans in the capital city of Lhasa rebelled against the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama fled the country. Amid native songs and prayers sung outside the City-County Building, several speakers made clear their views on the current political state in Tibet.

Khamlung Rinpoche, president of the Wisconsin Tibetan Association, gave a brief history of the uprising and thanked the state of Wisconsin and the City of Madison for declaring March 10 as Tibet Day.

Rinpoche said Tibet had been its own independent nation prior to Chinese occupation, a fact that is sometimes forgotten.

“We need to make sure all the governments, including the American government, recognize that Tibet was independent,” Rinpoche said.

He said 25 people have self-immolated themselves since the last anniversary of the uprising in protest of the Chinese government’s control of the country.

Rinpoche said both Tibetans and the international community should do all they can to ensure that Chinese policy in Tibet changes and that Tibetans have basic human rights and freedoms.

Additionally, he encouraged the United States to open an embassy in Tibet and said China needs to allow media sources into Tibet to report on what is happening in the country.

Activists also read a proclamation from Gov. Scott Walker stating the Legislature’s declaration of March 10 as Tibet Day.

“Human rights and freedom in Tibet must be the concern of all freedom-loving people everywhere,” Walker said in the the proclamation.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi also spoke on the county’s official approval of March 10 as Tibet Day.

He said the Chinese government intends to “wait us out,” in the hope that Tibet, its culture and its people will be forgotten. However, he said he believes this will not happen.

Parisi expressed his hope that one day Tibetans will be able to express their own customs, such as flying the Tibetan flag or displaying pictures of the Dalai Lama in their homes, without fear of legal or violent repercussions.

“To you, to the Tibetan people around the world, you will never be alone,” Parisi said. “We will always stand with you.”

Participants also read statements from Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and Sen. Herb Kohl. Each called for peace in Tibet and political freedom for its people.

In Baldwin’s statement, she said it is the duty of the U.S. government to assist Tibet in its struggle for freedom.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior Tenzin Kunor said he came to the rally to show support and help to ensure the self-immolations of protestors in Tibet would not be in vain.

“I want to bring about awareness of what is currently happening in Tibet and get some support from the rest of the world as well,” Kunor said.