75 protest at theme park protest China
Five people protesting Chinese aggression toward Taiwan and Tibet were arrested at Florida Splendid China.
By Susan Jacobson - of the Sentinel Staff
Kissimmee, March 17, 1996, (Orlando Sentinel) -- Seventy-five people marched in front of Florida Splendid China to protest Chinese aggression toward Taiwan and Tibet, and five were arrested as they blocked the entrance to the theme park. A dozen Osceola County deputy sheriffs, most in riot helmets and masks, were called to the scene at 12:05 p.m. when five members of Students for a Free Tibet sat in a circle, their arms linked with webbing and PVC pipe.
Deputies directed about a half-dozen cars around the protesters, then disentangled the five and carried them to a patrol car. John Hocevar, 27 of New York; John Voss, 22, of Chicago; Jesse Isom, 19, of Tampa; Adam Zenko, 23, of Wisconsin; and Claudia Cellini, 21, of Connecticut were charged with unlawful assembly, a misdemeanor, and released from jail on $250 bail each. As park visitors drove up, the sign-carrying marchers entreated them not go inside. The group included a large contingent of supporters of Taiwan. "Human rights are universal," they chanted. No one was injured, and the demonstrators left shortly after the arrests.
Last week, China began conducting missile tests and war games off the coast of Taiwan, which regards it as a renegade province. Some protesters said they want the U.S. government, which already has sent aircraft carriers and other warships to patrol the area to make China stop.
Others said they want President Clinton to halt human rights abuses in Tibet, which China controls. "We want to push China to democracy," said Calvin Chu, 60, of St. Cloud. Florida Splendid China has been the scene of several other anti-China demonstrations since it opened two years ago.
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THE OFFICE OF TIBET, TIBET HOUSE, 1 CULWORTH STREET
LONDON NW8 7AF, UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: 0041-171-722 5378 Fax: 0041-171-722 0362
E-mail: tibetlondon@gn.apc.org
Internet: http://www.gn.apc.org/tibetlondon/
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