China was granted the right to host the Olympic Games after it pledged to adhere to the Olympic Charter and improve its human rights record. Instead, its human rights abuses have worsened. In response, the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) organized the Human Rights Torch Relay, a year long, international effort to bring to light the Chinese Communist Party (CCP’s) human rights violations affecting Uighurs; Tibetan Budhists; Christians; rights activists; lawyers; reporters; the oppressed people of Sudan, Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea; and Falun Gong practitioners, among many other groups and individuals.

All over the world, people are walking, running, singing, biking, dancing, flying kites, speaking and reaching out to the public in any way possible to raise awareness of China’s human rights crimes, and telling its leaders to stop.

All interested organizations and individuals are encouraged to join.

Australia

Sydney
Date: Saturday, Oct 27
Time/Event: 10 am Official Launch and Relay, TOWN HALL
12-5 pm Circular Quay Concert
7-8 pm Open Air Screening
Contact: 0430 196 289 torchrelay.aust@cipfg.net

Brisbane
Date: Saturday, Nov 3
Time/Event: Relay: 12pm / Old Wind Mill, Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill
Ceremony & Concert: 1pm / Suncorp Piazza, South Bank
Contact: 0423255461 qld@cipfg.net

Sunshine Coast
Date: Sunday, Nov 4
Time/Event: Relay: 8.30 am, Felicity Park
Welcoming Ceremony & Relay: 10.30 am, Mooloolaba Esplanade
Relay: 12.30 pm, Coolum
Relay & Ceremony: 2.00 pm, Noosa
Live Concert: 1-5 pm, Lions Park, Noosaville

Cairns
Date: Saturday, Nov 10
Time/Event: Ceremony and entertainment; relay along the esplanade: 10:00 am-12:00 noon, Fogarty Park, Sound Shell The Esplanade
Ceremony & Concert: 3pm / Park next to Southport SLSC, Main Beach
Contact:Gayle 40536200 gst72990@bigpond.net.au

Gold Coast
Date: Saturday, Nov 10
Time/Event: Relay: 2pm / Eileen Peters Park - Esplanade opp Laycock St, Surfers Paradise
Ceremony & Concert: 3pm / Park next to Southport SLSC, Main Beach
Contact: 0404 894 714

Melbourne
Date: Friday & Saturday, Nov 16 & 17
Time/Event: Concert: Friday Nov 16th, 7:30pm, Federation Sq.
Parade and Torch Relay: Saturday Nov 17th, 11:00am, Queen Victoria Gardens (opp Arts Centre)
Contact: 0413 320 579 vic@cipfg.net

Adelaide
Date: Monday, Dec 3
Time/Event: Welcoming of the Torch: 12 noon-2:00 pm, Victoria Sq.

Canada

Toronto
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct 28, 12:00pm-6:00pm
Location: Chinese Consulate and Yonge-Dundas Square
Contact: Alice (416) 268-9279

Europe

Poland
Event details >
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Contact: Tomek: olympics-rights@safe-mail.net tel. +48 510443432

United States

Arizona
Phoenix
Date/Time: Thursday, Nov 1, 6:00pm
Location: Arizona State University Campus; Business Admin. Bldg., C Wing, #316 and Candlelight Walk to Hayden Lawn
Event: HRTR press conference and candlelight walk
Contact: Mary Jo Ard (520) 205-1800

California
San Francisco
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct 27, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Justin Herman Plaza - Bike route: Starts at Justin Herman Plaza and ends at Maritime Aquatic Park.
Event: rally, bike parade and run
Contact: Maria Daly (650) 504-3046

Colorado
Denver
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct 27, (8am registration, 9am walk/run, 11am rally)
Location: Cheeseman Park
Event: National Human Rights in China Awareness Week - Walk & Run (5k/3.1mi) in support of the Human Rights Torch Relay
Contact: Julia: (720) 277-7708

Connecticut
New Haven
Date/Time: Friday, Oct 26, 12 noon – 2:00pm
Location: Yale University Cross Campus (on College St. bet. Wall St. and Elm St.)
Event: public rally, organ harvesting photo display, postcard writing for human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, sidewalk parade
Contact: Scott Roberson (203) 589-9541

District of Columbia
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 27, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: In front of US Capitol (3rd St. and Reflecting Pool), DC National Mall
Event: rally, speeches, singing by 5+ ethnic groups, signature collection, flyer distribution, and photo/art exhibit TBD
Contact: Keith Ware: (202) 262-9419; Dr. Tsuwei Huang 301-395-8009

Idaho
Lewiston
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 28, 6:30pm
Location: YWCA, 300 Main St., Lewiston, Idaho
Event: Candlelight Vigil walk through downtown Lewiston, art display, information on Tibet, Burma and China
Contact: Kathryn Woodside, (208) 743-9018

Maryland
Baltimore
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 28, 12 noon - 2 pm
Location: McKeldin Square, Inner Harbor of Baltimore
Event: rally, speeches, singing, dance, signature collection, flyer distribution, and photo/art exhibit
Contact: Dr. Yudong Tian (443) 285-9157; Naiwen Guo (443) 280-2669

Montana
Missoula
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 28, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Jeanette Rankin Center for Peace
Event: documentary screening, “Plum Blossoms in Snow”
Contact: Laurie Hammill (406) 752-2395 lhammill@fastmail.fm

Nevada
Las Vegas
Date/Time: Wednesday, Oct. 24, 1pm - 4pm
Location: campus of UNLV; free speech area near student union
Event: Human rights activists in Las Vegas and Las Vegas Amnesty International chapter’s Campaign to Save Darfur will co-host a press conference to raise awareness of China’s human rights crimes.
Contact: Magala Moa: (702) 672-8228

New York
Albany
Date/Time:
Location: SUNY Campus
Event: Film screening “Good and Evil”
Contact: Leejun Ivie: (206) 251.3657

Oregon
Portland
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 26, 4pm – 6 pm
Location: Pioneer Square, downtown Portland
Event: rally/sidewalk march- “The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China”
Contact: Amy Nie hrtr2oregon@gmail.com;
Angela (503) 828-1720

Virginia
Richmond:
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 26, 11 am - 1 pm
Location: Site 1: Capitol Square, Downtown Richmond
Site 2: City Hall, Downtown Richmond
Event: rally, speeches, singing, flyer distribution and signature collection
Contact: Ms. Wang: (804) 747-1215, Angela: 703 589-7722

Washington
Seattle
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 27
Location: downtown Seattle, major locations
Event: van tour and awareness events at stops along route
Contact: Michael: (206) 251-3657

Wisconsin
Milwaukee
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 28
Location: Urban Ecology Center at Washington Park (40th & Vliet)
Event: “Kites for Human Rights!”, a run-up to the Global Human Rights Torch Relay. We will fly kites (bring one or make and decorate your own Human Rights Kite!) and share chili/bread/coffee/fruit/hot dogs from our sponsors, live music, a drum circle, and end the evening with a candlelight vigil
Contact: Tina Samuels (414) 403-9087