The City of Minneapolis

             A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL

By Cano, Reich, Gordon, Frey, B. Johnson, Yang, Warsame, Goodman, Glidden, Bender, Quincy, A. Johnson, and Palmisano

DECLARING “TIBET DAY” IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS

WHEREAS, On March 10, 2017, Tibetans will gather in their host countries to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising against the occupation of Tibet and to honor the memories of 1.2 million Tibetans killed by the Chinese government; and

WHEREAS, One hundred and forty five Tibetans in Tibet have self-immolated to oppose while thousands remain missing or arbitrarily imprisoned for simply expressing their views or writing poetry or singing a song about the situation in Tibet; and

WHEREAS, The world’s largest Tibetan Buddhist academy, Larung Gar in Tibet, is facing wide-scale demolitions and its ten thousand residential monks and nuns being forcefully evicted; and

WHEREAS, The ongoing atrocities carried out by the Chinese government against the Tibetans in their historic homeland must be of concern for all freedom-loving people and we call on China to immediately enter into substantive dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution to protect the fundamental rights of all Tibetans; and

WHEREAS, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is a greatly honored spiritual figure - revered, treasured, and loved throughout the world for his powerful teachings on non-violence, tolerance, and forgiveness; and

WHEREAS, The City of Minneapolis proclaimed March 2, 2014, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama Day of Peace and Compassion” to recognize the Dalai Lama as a true champion of world peace, inter-religious harmony, and a beacon of love and compassion; and

WHEREAS, The Minneapolis City Council affirms the determination of the in Tibet and in exile to retain their heritage and protect it from destruction against overwhelming odds through non-violent and peaceful means:

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Minneapolis City Council that March 10, 2017, the 58th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising, shall be officially recognized as "Tibet Day".

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Minneapolis City Council hereby urges the to respect Tibetan people's right to self-determination, safeguard their human rights and their pristine environment, and to immediately resume dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Minneapolis City Council stands in solidarity with Tibetans across North America in their "Tibet Action Year" initiatives led within a just, peaceful and non-violent movement to

remind the world of the occupation and ongoing suppression of human rights and freedom in Tibet and the continuous degradation of culture, religion, land and identity of the Tibetan people by China.

Passed, March 10, 2017

______Barbara Johnson, President of the Council

Approved:

______Betsy Hodges, Mayor

Attest:

______Casey Carl, City Clerk