East Turkistan National Movement to Commemorate 2014 Yarkand Massacre in Washington DC
The East Turkistan National Movement, a non-profit organization based in Washington, is inviting people to remember the 2014 Yarkand Massacre. This tragic event saw thousands of Uyghurs killed by Chinese government forces, marking the start of what the organization calls the ongoing Uyghur Genocide.
The commemoration event is scheduled for Sunday, July 28, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in front of the White House. The organization posted on its official X handle, urging people to join the rally and remember the massacre that began on July 28, 2014, in Yarkand, Occupied East Turkistan.
The East Turkistan National Movement is calling on the US government to take meaningful action against China’s colonization, genocide, and occupation in East Turkistan. They are also demanding the appointment of a Special Coordinator for East Turkistani/Uyghur Issues and the recognition of East Turkistan as a country occupied by China, similar to Tibet.
The term ‘Yarkand Massacre’ refers to a violent crackdown by Chinese security forces on Uyghur protesters and civilians in July 2014 in Yarkand County, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. While the Chinese government describes it as a counter-terrorism operation, critics and human rights organizations label it a massacre, citing excessive force against peaceful protesters and civilians.
Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority in Xinjiang, face severe human rights abuses, including mass arbitrary detention in ‘re-education camps,’ forced labor, and cultural assimilation campaigns. Various reports and investigations have highlighted these ongoing issues.