East Turkistan Government in Exile marks 12th Yarkent Massacre anniversary in Washington

The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) organised a demonstration outside the U.S. Department of State in Washington on July 29, 2026 to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the July 28, 2014 Yarkent Massacre in Xinjiang. The group claimed thousands of Uyghurs were killed in Yarkent County and demanded that the United States and the international community move beyond statements to take concrete action against what it describes as China’s genocide and occupation of East Turkistan.

ETGE called for the recognition of East Turkistan as an occupied territory, an end to the alleged genocide, and the restoration of its independence. China continues to reject allegations of genocide in the region, describing its policies as counter‑terrorism and development measures. The protest highlights ongoing tensions over human‑rights accusations in Xinjiang and U.S.–China relations.