Monday, August 18, 2008; Posted 4.10 pm (CDT)

China says it's a protest that shouldn't exist, but many around the world say it's a crisis that's been ignored by the Chinese government for far too long. The Olympics have become the perfect background for opponents to show their dissent.

"The irony of the Olympics being there at this time is that they're suffering more than ever," says activist Kelly Osborne. "The Tibetans deserve their freedom, want their freedom, and regardless of what the Chinese government says, they're not a free society."

Osborne was deported from China after he and four others secured a "Free Tibet" sign in front of China's state television news headquarters.

"Kind of to counter, this is what they're saying and what they're showing, and this is the truth: the Tibetan people continue to suffer," says Osborne.

After 30 minutes, they were taken away and interrogated for several hours before being forced to leave, but they're not the only ones. Protesters have been flooding China with Tibetan flags and signs crying out for a free Tibet.

"The way we bring about change is through awareness," says Osborne. "While we don't speak for the Tibetans, we speak along with them."

Osborne says the Olympics being held in Beijing is appalling because of the obvious conflict of interest.

"When people watch the Olympics what you see, the glitz and the glamour of Beijing isn't reality," says Osborne. "There's a great deal of suffering."

Though Osborne may not be welcomed back to China anytime soon, he says the fight will go on.

"There is unquestionably hope for a free Tibet," says Osborne. "Tibet will be free one day."

Osborne says he decided to become an activist after his daughter was born. He says he looked around and wondered what he could do to make the world a better place for him and his family.

This Saturday, another "Free Tibet" group, called Candle for Tibet will attempt to bring candles to every Chinese Embassy in the world to show that while the Olympics may be ending, their campaign is far from over.

For more information, or to find out how you can help: http://www.candle4tibet.org/en/ and http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/.