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Participants in the Human Rights Torch Relay on the upper green in New Haven: Photo by Derek LartaudNew Haven was one stop for the Human Rights Torch Relay, a multi-city, international campaign to raise awareness for human rights abuses in China.

Event participants were there for different reasons. Some were advocating for a free Tibet, some protested against China’s involvement in Darfur, others spoke out against the persecution of Folun Gong practitioners.

John Kusumi is Director Emeritus of the China Support Network, a sponsor of the event. The network serves as an advocate for oppresed groups in China. Kusumi believes that a disruption to the Olympics can have a real impact on the Chinese government.

"In the case of a failed Olympics, you want to tell me that doesn’t make a difference? That would have political repercussions inside of China. That would get people stirred and moving within China, basically the CCP’s government could not last.”

Competing demonstration on the lower green: Photo by Derek Lartaud

At the same time, on the Lower Green, a gathering supporting the 2008 Olympic Games was underway. The event, organized and comprised primarily of Chinese students at Yale, waved Chinese flags, raised Olympic banners, and sang songs in a march around the Green’s perimeter. Student Jie Chen acknowledges that China has problems, but thinks the Olympics could be a window into China.

"So I think it’s an opportunity for westerners, everyone in the world, to come to China and see the real modern china for themselves, and then make a decision."

The Human Rights Torch Relay heads next to Albany, New York.