On the eve of the Olympic Games in Beijing, Toronto's Tibetan community joined with Tibetans world wide and took aim at a half-century-old conflict with the Chinese.
The Global Day of Action brought more than 250 Toronto Tibetans to a march along Queen Street West, starting in Parkdale and concluding at the Chinese consulate on St. George.
"We're here today to send a message out to the Chinese government," said organizer Tsering Lame. "There's been massive killings, there's been mass arrests, arbitrary arrests, detentions, thousands have been missing."
Most of those on hand were hardly new to the struggle against what they argue is unjust and continuous military occupation. Some have been involved in the conflict for decades.
"I've been fighting this battle for Tibet for 45 years," said B.C. native Judy Tethong. "Thousands of Tibetan refugees to this day are having to escape from Tibet because China has totally taken over the country."
The Day of Action included protests around the world, the largest of which was staged in Nepal.
In Toronto police put up barricades as a precaution, though the march was typically peaceful.
Supporters also planned a vigil for Thursday night at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre.