December 26 was the first day of the Falun Dafa week in Columbia, Missouri. It was a very nice day. At noon, over 60 practitioners from Columbia and other nearby cities gathered in the Central Square practicing five sets of Falun Gong exercises. Banners reading "Falun Dafa", "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" etc were hung up around the Square. At the entrance of the City Hall, posters of introduction to Falun Dafa, mayor's proclamation and some handouts were displayed. After the practice, the videotape of "Falun Gong ---the Real Story" was played in a conference room.

On the same day, the local major newspaper---Columbia Missourian reported the interviews of the Mayor and local practitioners. After the Mayor signed the proclamation, he received a lot of slanderous materials about Falun Dafa from the Chinese Consulate in Chicago, which urged him to rescind the proclamation. But the Mayor decided to back up the proclamation even under the pressure of the Chinese government. He said, "I prefer to rely on my own government."

Local TV also covered this activity.

Posting date: 1/3/2000
Original article date: 1/3/2000
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide

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