Summer Heats Up

The Human Rights Torch Relay takes Beijing to task.

A A A Comments By Erin Vanderberg Thursday, Apr 3 2008

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

"China was awarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympics — with the condition that it improve its human-rights record ahead of the Games," says Susan Prager, outreach director of the Human Rights Torch Relay USA. "Instead, China escalated its human-rights abuses, which include rampant political incarcerations of so-called dissidents and journalists, forced abortions, illicit organ harvesting, forced evictions and religious and ethnic persecution." With its own torch sparked in Athens, the HRTR has traveled to 35 different countries to bring awareness to the political issues surrounding this August's Summer Olympics in Beijing. Today it arrives at City Park, where an all-day event includes a 5K race at 8 a.m., followed by speeches at 11, then music and poetry into the evening, when an 8 p.m. candlelight vigil brings activities to a close. Food vendors will be on hand, as will a variety of student, religious, political and non-profit organizations dispensing information on human rights. For details, contact Carol at 303-758-1296 or visit www.humanrightstorch.org.
Sat., April 5, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 2008

Get the Events Newsletter

What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.