More than 1,000 people took part in a protest in downtown Toronto Sunday in support of the Tibetan community.
The rally began outside Parkdale Collegiate Institute and made its way across the city to Queen's Park.
When the procession arrived at Bathurst and Queen Street, protesters lay on the ground for what they called a "die-in" to symbolize the death of Tibetans, killed during riots in Tibet earlier this month.
On March 10, hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns staged a protest against Chinese rule. Chinese authorities arrested many of the protesters which only fueled further rebellion from the Tibetans.
China sent in thousands of troops in response to escalating protests throughout the region.
In Toronto, protesters chanted "Stop the killing in Tibet" and "Shame on China -- the world is watching" during the three-and-a-half hour procession.
"They are killing so many people in Tibet right now," said one protester. "We've got to speak out."
Another protester said what's going on in the embattled regions is "brutal and inhumane."
Many of the protesters were moved to tears.
Spreading awareness
Gelek Badheytsang, a protest organizer with Students for a Free Tibet Canada, said Toronto is home to the largest community of Tibetans in the world outside India and Nepal.
Speaking to CTV Newsnet Sunday, Badheytsang said Canadians understand what they're fighting against.
"The reason why there are so many supporters in these kind or rallies is because Canadians feel strongly about the cause inside Tibet," he said. "They know Chinese authorities have been operating an suppressive regime inside Tibet for more than 50 years now and so they're getting behind us and we're really emboldened by the support we are getting so far."
He shot back against accusations that Tibet's holy leader, the Dalai Lama, is trying to shift the focus away from the Beijing Olympics.
Badheytsang said Tibetans do not want the Olympics to be boycotted but that rather the international public be made aware of China's actions.
"What we want is to urge the athletes, world leaders and sponsors to be aware of the plight of the Tibetans. Not only Tibetans but also the hundreds of millions of Chinese who suffer under the tyranny of the Chinese communist party," he said. "And we would want them to voice their opposition... and speak on behalf of those who suffer."
He also said the torch should not pass through Tibet during its relay route to Beijing.
"When the torch passes through Tibet it will exacerbate the situation inside Tibet because a lot of Tibetans feel resentment," he said.
However, Badheytsang said the movement is urging world leaders not to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.
"We're not calling for a boycott of the Olympics," he said. "We understand the athletes have put a lot of time and effort into this and this is their crowing achievement to participate in these sorts of games."
Toronto's Tibetan community plans to continue their protest in the weeks to come. On Tuesday they plan to hold a hunger protest outside the Chinese consulate and on March 31 they will participate in a larger international march to protest conditions in Tibet.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Janice Golding
