| Published: Thursday 21st July 2005 |
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By Kerry Huang and Ying Wang
On July 16th, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area held a grand parade against the persecution and an anti-torture exhibition to expose the Jiang faction and the evil Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) suppression of Falun Gong practitioners over the past six years. The practitioners called on the public to help stop the persecution.
Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Lu Hui, who works in a water conservancy bureau, said that at present, more and more people understand what Falun Gong is, and more and more people are practising it. In addition, many people have expressed their support for Falun Gong and their condemnation of the persecution. Previously, Falun Gong was unknown outside of China. It was the CCP that pushed Falun Gong onto the world stage. Currently, Falun Gong is practised in more than 70 countries around the world.
Lu Hui stated that on July 20th, 1999, out of his jealousy, the former Chairman of the CCP Jiang Zemin launched the persecution against Falun Gong even though six of the seven standing committee members in the CCP's Central Government Political Bureau opposed the suppression. The Jiang faction has used every means at its disposal to persecute and torture Falun Gong practitioners. It has been verified that at least 2,685 Falun Gong practitioners have died from the persecution. At present, tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are still imprisoned in labour camps and psychiatric hospitals, where they are subjected to various kinds of mistreatment.
Mr. Lu said that over the past six years, Falun Gong practitioners outside China have been both rational and peaceful. They have been calling for an end to the persecution through peaceful appeals in front of Chinese Embassies or Consulates, parades, anti-torture exhibitions and photo exhibitions to allow more people to learn the facts. "Today, just before July 20th, we once again are holding a group practise, parade and anti-torture exhibition in San Francisco's Chinatown. Our purpose is to call for justice and conscience to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China."
Group practise in the morning
In the early morning, Falun Gong practitioners went to Washington Square to hold a group practise and poster exhibition. Many people passing by, including local residents and tourists from all over the world, were drawn by the peaceful scene and came over to watch.
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| Falun Dafa banner | Photo exhibition in Washington Park | Banner reading "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" |
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| In memory of fellow practitioners | Exposing the persecution | Passersby learning Falun Gong exercises |
A gentleman says, "The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance."
A San Francisco resident greeted the Falun Gong practitioners and said, "The world needs Falun Gong. The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Keeping going!"
He said that he has known about Falun Gong for 10 years. He knew that Falun Gong is a form of meditation that has benefited people all over the world. When he saw practitioners holding appeals in front of the Chinese Consulate, he made a bow to the practitioners. He could not understand why such a peaceful practise is encountering the persecution. The practitioners told him that the former CCP leader Jiang was jealous over the popularity of Falun Gong. He could not bear the thought that so many people believe in Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, which contradict the principles of the CCP.
The gentleman expressed his wish that more people in China and across the world would learn Falun Gong. He shook hands with the practitioners and wished Falun Gong success.
A tourist from Europe: You are battling with the most vicious demon in the world.
A tourist from Europe said, "The U.S. is a beautiful country. You (Falun Gong practitioners) should tell the U.S. government that you are battling with the most vicious demon in the world. They (the U.S.) should help you."
Parade against the persecution
At noon, practitioners marched through Chinatown to display the beauty of Falun Gong and expose the evil CCP's persecution against Falun Gong.
Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Peng from San Francisco, who attended the parade, said, "When we passed through Chinatown, a great number of Chinese people along the street saw the facts about Falun Gong. Many people are willing to accept flyers. We feel it is much easier to hand out materials than before. People are willing to read them. One kind of material that I distributed was entitled, 'Falun Dafa is great and the entire world knows about it.' The title was quite eye-catching. When people passing by saw the title, they asked for the material."
Mr. Peng continued, "The evil CCP's persecution over the past six years did not reach its goal. On the contrary, many people all over the world got the chance to learn about the facts of the persecution. They know that Falun Gong practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. They become good people through cultivation in Falun Gong and their moral standard has been upgraded. The event we hold today indicates that the persecution by CCP, Jiang's faction and its followers will not succeed."
Anti-torture exhibition
After the parade concluded, practitioners held an anti-torture exhibition in the Garden Corner Park in San Francisco's Chinatown. Practitioner Ms. Wang, who took part in the anti-torture exhibition, said that this reminded her of July 20th six years ago. On that day, she went to the Appeals Office affiliated with the State Council to appeal on behalf of Falun Gong. She was arrested by police officers. Those officers were very violent, as they locked Falun Gong practitioners in a big yard and beat them. Some practitioners were beaten so badly that they bled. She continued, "Six years have passed. The evil CCP has not changed at all. They just carry out the persecution in a more secret manner. Today as I come here, the Garden Corner Park, I want to call for the world to bring those murderers who persecute Falun Gong practitioners to justice. Let justice and conscience come back to the human world."
All activities were sponsored by Falun Gong practitioners
Mr. Wu, who teaches at the University of San Francisco, pointed out that some people were deceived by the CCP's lies and thought that practitioners were paid to hold such activities. He said, "I'm teaching at the University of San Francisco. Here, quite many Falun Gong practitioners have their doctoral or master's degrees. We have good jobs and salaries. The posters, sound systems and other materials you see here are designed, made or bought by ourselves." He asked people on the site, "If I say that I'll pay you to do all these things, are you willing to do so under the hot sun, day after day? Are you willing to do the same thing as we do?"
People should step forward and help stop the persecution
Mr. Bian from the Bay Area said, "The CCP has persecuted Falun Gong for six years. They have mobilised the state machinery to ruthlessly suppress Falun Gong. Such persecution is unprecedented. All kind-hearted people who have a sense of justice should stand up and help stop the persecution."
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