Protesters will rally outside Museum during Jiang visit

Around 15 students showed up last night in Houston Hall's Smith-Penniman room to condemn forced labor, urge compassion for Tibetans, and decorate posterboards in preparation for Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to campus today. For students disillusioned with what Amnesty International Treasurer Josh Marcus, a College senior, called a "remarkable lack of activism on campus," the meeting, while small, offered a welcome change. Members debated, delegated tasks for the next day, and went to work coloring signs. Unfortunately for the small Amnesty-headed group, the Taiwanese Society did not join the cause. "They said that, although China is threatening their security, they did not want to take any political stance," explained Amnesty president, Mark Kahn, a College senior. "My three main focuses would be torture, murder and Tibet," Marcus said as he advised participants on subjects for their posters. "But signs focused on Penn are also appropriate." Marcus emphasized that Amnesty International was "disturbed" by the new Penn initiative, which will train executives of China's state-owned enterprises in the ways of capitalism. But many said they were offended Jiang is coming to the city at all. "It's embarrassing that he's getting to come to the Liberty Bell, while he is leader of one of the most oppressive regimes on earth," said College freshman Martine Apodaca. University spokesperson Ken Wildes said that although the area outside of the University Museum will be closed, preventing protesters from getting too close, the streets will remain open "until the very last minute." Meanwhile, other students will exercise a subtler form of civil disobedience by viewing noted Tibetan sympathizer Richard Gere's new movie Red Corner at a free International House screening at 8 p.m.

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