Ball State University counseling psychology professor Larry Gerstein and 22 Tibetans walked about 13 miles Tuesday as part of the "March for Tibet's Independence."
But they've only begun their journey.
The march of more than 200 miles began Tuesday morning with a rally at Monument Circle in Indianapolis. The walk will end by 2 p.m. on Dec. 10 at China's Consulate in Chicago, where Tibetans and supporters will protest China's illegal occupation of Tibet.
"With the heavy rain and with such a large group of people, it's been kind of a challenge," Gerstein said.
The march is the tenth coordinated by the International Tibet Independence Movement, which Gerstein helped found in 1995 with Taktser Rinpoche, the oldest brother of the Dalai Lama and a retired professor of Indiana University-Bloomington.
Jigme Norbu, son of Rinpoche and nephew of the Dalai Lama, is leading the walk.
The mission of ITIM is to "(demand) that the voice of Tibetans for Independence be heard by government and non-governmental agencies world-wide," according to its Web site.
Dec. 10 is the anniversary of the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights and the Dalai Lama's reception of the Nobel Peace Prize, Gerstein said.
"We feel we need to put more pressure on the Chinese government to release political prisoners and resolve the Tibet situation," he said. "The culture in Tibet is being destroyed, and time is running out."
The marchers gave a presentation to students, staff and faculty at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Tuesday afternoon and plan to educate people about Tibet through presentations at various other universities, high schools and churches along the way, Gerstein said.
During the walk, Tibetans and supporters will also promote a boycott of China's goods and stress the need to stop environmental destruction in Tibet. In addition, the group is participating in radio broadcasts through Radio Free Asia and Voice of America to inspire the people of Tibet, Gerstein said.
"Tibetans are a nonviolent population, and through their example of nonviolence, it will teach us a lot about how to deal with conflict and violence in the world," Gerstein said. "It will show us it is possible to solve things peacefully without armed conflict."
Ngawang Norbu, who lives in Boston and is participating in ITIM's march for the first time, said he hopes the walk will encourage more college students to get involved and help make much-needed changes in Tibet.
"Nowadays, there's children getting more education and seeing the war situation everywhere," Norbu said. "We follow nonviolence. Maybe they like our approach, and that's why they are maybe more interested."
Gerstein said students from IUPUI and Indiana University's chapter of Students for a Free Tibet will participate in the walk later this week. Ball State used to have the same kind of student organization, but it fell apart about six years ago, he said.
"People in leadership graduated and they didn't have anybody behind them to step up as a leader," Gerstein said.
He said he hopes Ball State students who are interested in learning more about the situation in Tibet will participate in the walk this weekend in Lafayette and even consider restarting a Ball State chapter of Students for a Free Tibet.
"There's really an interest in seeing how we can resolve big problems through peaceful solutions," he said. "I'm sure other students have the same desire."
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