New York: Tibetan Protester Self-Immolates Outside UN Headquarters In Appeal For Independence | WATCH

A man carrying a Tibetan flag set himself on fire in protest outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York City, on Thursday in an appeal for Tibetan independence. The protester was identified by a friend as Lobga Rangzen, who had reportedly been living in the United States for about 20 years.

Rangzen was dressed in full monastic robes when he put a Tibetan flag on the sidewalk before setting himself on fire during the evening rush hour, according to videos circulating on social media.

According to Voice of Tibet, a media outlet run by exiled Tibetans, Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen "self-immolated outside the UN headquarters in New York after a live appeal for Tibetan independence and unity".

The incident took place around 7 pm near East 43rd Street and First Avenue in Manhattan, The New York Post reported. Surveillance footage showed Rangzen, dressed in traditional monk's robes, placing a Tibetan flag on the sidewalk before setting himself on fire on the busy street. He also scattered leaflets before collapsing.

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A 52 Tibetan man self-immolated outside of the UN in protest of the China occupation, sources say. pic.twitter.com/OemOijOVqs

— Dean_Moses (@Dean_Moses) July 3, 2026

Less than a minute after being engulfed in flames, Rangzen collapsed to the ground while traffic continued to move and car horns blared. Police officers and security personnel rushed to the scene and extinguished the flames within 15 seconds. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to local news outlet amNewYork, Rangzen worked as an Uber driver and arrived at the scene carrying a Tibetan flag. The outlet quoted fellow Uber driver Lobsang Paljor, who said he knew Rangzen through the Tibetan community. Paljor told the news website that Rangzen "was enraged by the restrictions the Chinese government had placed on his countrymen".

Meanwhile, the Tibetan flag remained at the scene for about an hour as police cordoned off the area and carried out an investigation. Officers were seen collecting leaflets scattered at the site, one of which read, "China out of Tibet". The slogan is commonly associated with the Tibetan independence movement, also known as the "Free Tibet" campaign.

🚨🇺🇸 A man carrying a Tibetan flag self-immolated outside the UN in New York tonight.

He was rushed to Bellevue in critical condition.

Reports say papers at the scene read "China Out of Tibet."https://t.co/aVYRsDru4B

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 3, 2026

According to Free Tibet, more than 150 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009 in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. The organisation says the movement seeks to restore Tibetans' right to self-determination and calls for the return of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, to Tibet.

One witness, a 37-year-old man from New Jersey, said that he “just saw some smoke from over there gushing up".

“It was a big flame with fire,” he continued, adding that he saw two UN officers extinguish the flames.

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Police were also seen collecting the leaflets Rangzen had scattered, including one bearing the message “CHINA OUT OF TIBET”, a slogan widely associated with the Tibetan independence movement, or the contemporary "Free Tibet" campaign.

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According to Free Tibet, more than 150 people have self-immolated in Tibet since March 2009 to protest what they describe as “Chinese occupation".