Famed Hollywood Buddhist and human rights lawyer Richard Gere joins Republicans and Democrats in highlighting China’s abuses against Tibet, calling for “reevaluation of our relationship” with the CCP
- “Have you ever seen an event where Democrats and Republicans get along so well?” said the Pretty Woman star
- “We are about to reevaluate our relationship with the Chinese Communist Party — can they ever tell the truth?” Gere added.
- Rep McCaul said he promised Gere the Free Tibet Act would get an upgrade in the Foreign Affairs Committee so he could ‘get it to the House floor’
Richard Gere appeared on Capitol Hill Tuesday, praising the rare bipartisan show of support for a bill to stand up to China’s abuse of the Tibet region.
“Have you ever seen an event where Democrats and Republicans get along so well?” said the Pretty Woman star as he stood flanked by a number of Republicans and Democrats.
“We are about to reevaluate our relationship with the Chinese Communist Party — can they ever tell the truth?” added Gere, who discovered Buddhism in the late 1970s after meeting Tibetan Buddhist monks inNepal. He is a friend of the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India after the Chinese takeover of Tibet.
The 73-year-old Gere has previously testified in Congress on the issue and gave warm hugs to Michael McCaul, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, R-Texas, and Rep. Jim McGovern, Massachusetts, top Democrat on the Rules Committee.
The actor was also joined by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.
McCaul said he promised Gere that the Free Tibet Act would get a raise in the Foreign Affairs Committee so he could “get it to the House of Representatives.”
American actor and president of the International Campaign for Tibet Richard Gere attends a bipartisan press conference to highlight the important plight of Tibetans
Gere discovered Buddhism in the late 1970s after meeting Tibetan Buddhist monks in Nepal. He is a friend of the Dalai Lama
The bill would allow the president to recognize the “Tibetan Autonomous Region” as a separate and independent country from China, as the Chinese Communist Party has ruled the region since the 1950s.
Our bill rejects the [Chinese Communist Party’s] claims that their tyranny over Tibet is a legitimate government, and claims that the people of Tibet have a say in their future,” McCaul said at the news conference.
Testifying before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Gere accused Chinese authorities of separating Tibetan families, banning their language, destroying religious sites and collecting DNA without consent.
“As we know, the Chinese Communist Party’s ethnic policies have been largely based on containment, denial, destruction and assimilation for decades,” Gere said.
Gere accused Beijing of “cruelty, collective violence and persecution” of the Tibetan people, who he said were oppressed by a “pervasive surveillance system.”
Gere accused Beijing of “cruelty, collective violence and persecution” of the Tibetan people, who he said were oppressed by a “pervasive surveillance system.”
The actor gave warm hugs to members of Congress before the Tibet press conference
McCaul said he promised Gere that the Free Tibet Act would get an upgrade in the Foreign Affairs Committee so he could “get it to the House of Representatives”
The bill would also amend the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 to direct the State Department to publish periodic reports on countering disinformation about Tibet from the Chinese government.
“When it comes to Tibet, we’re running out of time and we have to do something else,” McGovern told the press on Tuesday. “Let’s get this bill passed and send a clear and unequivocal message to the people of Tibet and the Chinese government that the whole world is watching what is happening. We won’t be silent.’