OKC Man Returns To U.S. After China Protest

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A local youth pastor, who received world-wide attention after protesting in Beijing, China, has returned home to Oklahoma.

Kelly Osborne was detained following the human rights protest and was later deported by Chinese authorities.

His wife, Michelle, waited for him to arrive at Will Rogers Airport on Saturday afternoon. After two weeks, her children and her are excited to see their father and husband.

"I was just saying to somebody else, you know, at least my husband's coming home. There are lots of Tibentans who don't get that option," Michelle Osbourne said.

Knowing they would be arrested, the five protesters displayed a large banner reading, "Free Tibet" outside a Beijing TV station Friday morning.

The 39-year-old Osborne is a father of four and said he stands behind his actions.

"As a father and person who's serious about their faith, I felt an obligation to get out there and do what I could to help the cause," Osborne said.

The youth pastor of the Mayflower Congregational church, Osborne said he wanted to make others aware of China's treatment of Tibetans.

"There have been thousands and thousands of Tibetans who've been imprisoned, who've been tortured and who've been murdered," Osborne said.

The group chose a government-operated TV station to hold their protest to prove a point.

"The fact that they would never cover something like this and they would never allow for their people to engage in civil disobedience," Osborne said.

Osborne and the other protestors were quickly detained and deported, but never harmed.

"The detainment was not very bad," Osborne said. "The world is watching and we are westerners."

He said if it wasn't for the Olympics and the rest of the world watching, he would have been put in prison and possibly killed for protesting in the country.

Osborne said he took an interest in Tibet after several others made him aware of what the Chinese are doing to their people. He's hoping others will follow in his footsteps.

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08/15/2008  OKC Man Arrested In China