Dalai Lama Visits Southland On Non-Violence Speaking Tour
INGLEWOOD (CBSLA.com) — His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso, visited Los Angeles Tuesday as he continues a speaking tour on Non-Violence and the Effects of Compassion in the 21st Century.
The afternoon event, held at The Forum, was organized by The Lourdes Foundation.
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the nation of Tibet and a self-described simple Buddhist monk.
His visit to the Southland was not be met without resistance, however, as a peaceful protest was staged starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns of the International Shugden Community (ISC) have accused the 78-year-old Dalai Lama of religious persecution and human rights abuses.
"They're being forcibly pushed out of their society. All we're asking is from him to tell the Tibetan community that they are free to practice anything they want," Len Foly of the ISC said.
A similar protest was held in Santa Clara Monday outside a venue where he spoke to a sold-out crowd.
Mayor Eric Garcetti and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. were scheduled to attend the event at The Forum.