Majora Carter in Olympic Torch Scuffle

Majora Carter '88 was involved in an incident with San Francisco authorities yesterday during the Olympic torch relay ceremony.

Carter, a notable Wesleyan alum and clearly an awesome individual, was selected as a torchbearer for part of the San Francisco relay due to her humanitarian work in New York City. AP:

At least one torchbearer decided to show her support for Tibetan independence during her moment in the spotlight. After being passed the Olympic flame, Majora Carter ['88] pulled out a small Tibetan flag that she had hidden in her shirt sleeve.

"The Chinese security and cops were on me like white on rice, it was no joke," said Carter, 41, who runs a nonprofit organization in New York. "They pulled me out of the race, and then San Francisco police officers pushed me back into the crowd on the side of the street."

From the Daily News:

"Apparently, I'm not part of the Olympic torch-bearing entourage anymore," Carter quipped.

Carter's maverick move was the most successful act of defiance in the cat-and-mouse game cops played with the thousands railing against China's crackdown on dissidents in Tibet and its unwillingness to denounce genocide in Darfur.

[EDIT 5:15 pm] A video of Carter explaining her feelings about the incident:

And another video of Carter speaking at a Free Tibet rally shortly after the incident.

Thanks to Izaak Orlansky for the tip, and Leah Lamb of Current Media for the video!

Buddhist nuns in Tibetan politics

Tess Parker '10 sends us word of a talk tomorrow at Buddhist House:

There will be a talk by Columbia professor Robbie Barnett. He will be talking about the self-emergence of Buddhist nuns—historically marginalized figures in Tibetan society—as quietly important political players in contemporary Tibet.

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 5
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Buddhist House