A Tibetan activist died after setting himself on fire in a public protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday evening, drawing attention to China’s policies in Tibet. The man, identified by friends as 52-year-old Lobsang Palden, also known as Lobga Rangzen, was a longtime advocate for Tibetan independence and a resident of Queens, New York.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., New York City police responded to a call near East 42nd Street and 1st Avenue, adjacent to the U.N. headquarters, where they found an individual suffering from severe burns. Emergency responders transported him to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities confirmed that the incident was a self-immolation.

Lobga Rangzen livestreamed the act on his verified Facebook page shortly before his death. The footage showed him walking with a large Tibetan flag, which he placed on a street corner before igniting himself. In a video posted earlier on the same day, he addressed the Tibetan exile community, urging unity and increased efforts in the struggle for Tibet’s independence. He emphasized that his demonstration was motivated by political conviction rather than personal hardship.

The protest coincided with the enactment of a new law by the Chinese government aimed at promoting “ethnic unity.” The legislation mandates Mandarin as the primary language in schools across minority regions and introduces measures intended to assimilate ethnic groups such as Tibetans and Uyghurs into China’s dominant Han culture. Beijing’s policies in Tibet have faced longstanding criticism for restricting religious practice, suppressing dissent, and targeting the use of the Tibetan language, especially in educational settings.

Since 2009, more than 150 Tibetans within China have self-immolated in acts of protest against Chinese rule. These incidents have largely involved monks initially, later expanding to include a wider cross-section of the Tibetan population. In 2012, then-U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay condemned China’s actions for forcing Tibetans into “desperate forms of protest,” while also encouraging nonviolent methods for expressing grievances.

Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation is reported to be the first such act by a Tibetan activist in the United States. Tenzin Dorjee, director of research and advocacy at Tibet Action Institute and a longtime friend of the activist, noted that the calm and clarity of his final message suggested careful planning. Dorjee described him as deeply committed to the cause of Tibetan national liberation and an active participant in the New York Tibetan community, frequently supporting cultural events and protests.

Another friend, Tibetan writer Jamyang Norbu, recounted Lobga Rangzen’s origins in the Kham region of Tibet, his exile in the 1980s, and studies at a Tibetan monastery in India before relocating to the United States. Norbu said Lobga Rongzen’s brother remains imprisoned in China. Hundreds of Tibetans and supporters gathered near the U.N. on Thursday night to honor Lobga Rangzen, reflecting his wide respect as both an activist and a generous individual.

The demonstration underscored ongoing divisions within the exile community regarding approaches to China, with some advocating negotiation for autonomy rather than full independence. Norbu suggested that Lobga Rangzen’s final act “drew a line in the sand,” signaling his unwavering stance that full independence was the only viable path forward.

Tenzin Dorjee recalled a recent phone conversation with Lobga Rangzen in June, highlighting his continued kindness and dedication to helping others even as he prepared for his final protest.