Activists with Students for a Free Tibet protested the Olympics on Saturday
STAMFORD — Dozens of protesters with Students for a Free Tibet gathered at the gate leading to NBC’s campus on Blachley Road on Saturday to protest the 2022 Winter Olympics, and NBC’s coverage of the event, due to China’s human rights violations.
The Olympics taking place in Beijing have been heavily criticized by human rights groups over alleged instances of forced labor, mass detentions, torture and more taking place within the country.
One of those human rights groups is Students for a Free Tibet, an international, nonprofit organization that works to support the Tibetan people and to hold China accountable for human rights violations. Their members refer to the 2022 Winter Olympics by a different name — the “Genocide Games.”
Tenzin Miglay, North American grassroots coordinator for the organization, explained why.
“The backdrop of these Games is genocide,” Miglay said, alluding to charges from U.S. and other world government officials that China is guilty of genocide and other atrocities.
She called NBC’s coverage of the Games “a complete human rights failure,” but that it’s not too late to stop broadcasting the events.
“NBC already completed an egregious offense, but it’s not too late,” Miglay said.
Protesters called on NBC to stop broadcasting, or at least provide coverage of the human rights violations taking place.
Officials from NBC Sports declined to comment.
The protesters chanted, displayed signs and handed out flyers to NBC employees as they left the campus. The protest began at 9 a.m. and lasted until about 2 p.m.
Miglay said that anyone can join in the protest by not tuning in to the Olympic Games this year. More information can be found at www.iwillnotwatch.com.