Students for a Free Tibet

Background

Students for a Free Tibet was founded in New York City in 1994 by Tibetan exiles and American college students seeking to mobilize youth support for Tibetan self-determination. The group established campus chapters across the United States and later expanded internationally, eventually claiming more than 650 chapters in over 100 countries. By the early 2000s it had opened offices in India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. ^{3 4}

The organization conducted international protests leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic and participated in several attempts to disrupt the Olympic torch relay. Activists accused the Communist Party-ruled People’s Republic of China “of using the Olympics and the global Torch Relay to cover up its human rights record and legitimize its rule in Tibet.” Students for a Free Tibet also organized efforts to lobby the International Olympic Committee, urging the IOC to relocate the torch relay from Tibet and make a public statement of concern over violence against the Tibetan people by the Chinese government. ⁵

Tenzin Dorjee, then the deputy director of Students for a Free Tibet, stated, “At this moment, when the Tibetan nation is in crisis and the Chinese government is violently oppressing our people, it is unacceptable that (IOC President Jacques) Rogge refuses even to sit down and talk about how the IOC could help improve the situation.” ⁵

In April 2008, members of SFT were arrested after scaling the Golden Gate Bridge and unfurling a pro-Tibet banner as part of protests against the Olympic torch relay. ⁶

Activities

Students for a Free Tibet organizes protests and public pressure campaigns, including protests outside Chinese embassies and consulates and corporate-targeted campaigns against firms operating in Chinese-controlled Tibet. The group promotes the pro-Tibet work of Human Rights Watch, and has lobbied against Chinese Communist Party-aligned Confucius Institute chapters at U.S. universities, claiming credit for the closure of at least 20 Confucius Institute chapters. ⁷

The organization maintains programs on political prisoners, environmental issues in Tibet, and corporate accountability, and it coordinates joint actions with other Tibet-related advocacy groups. ⁷

Funding

Students for a Free Tibet reported $531,100 in revenue for fiscal year 2024, with the vast majority coming from contributions and grants. Known funders include the National Endowment for Democracy (a congressionally funded entity that supports democracy-promotion programs abroad), the Open Society Institute, and the Rockefeller Foundation. ^{8 9 10}

Related Organizations

Students for a Free Tibet is a member of the International Tibet Network and frequently coordinates with the International Campaign for Tibet and Tibet Action Institute. ^{11 7}