On January 27, 2001, over 100 Falun Dafa practitioners from New York and New Jersey attended the annual Chinese New Year Parade in Flushing, Queens. This was the second year for Falun Gong practitioners to participate in the parade. During the parade, the Falun Gong group walked along with other groups to the Falun Dafa music "Pu Du". They appeared somber and peaceful. The banners they carried attracted the attention of many spectators. The banners read: "Falun Dafa is great; Falun Dafa practitioners wish every one a Happy New Year; Falun Gong greets the new spring with peace and good luck." People greeted Falun Gong practitioners with applause and cheers. When the group was approaching the podium, the parade organizer cheered, "Thank you, Falun Dafa friends. I wish that you all will have a good, health, happy New Year and success on everything you do!" New York City Council member Mr. Sheldon Leffler also expressed his good will to Falun Gong practitioners by saying "Happy New Year." Last year, on November 29, Mr. Leffler issued a proclamation to praise Master Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa practitioners for their peaceful and noble spirit and their courage under China's persecution. The proclamation also denounced the Chinese government for its crackdown on Falun Gong. An older Chinese American told the reporter: "Falun Gong practitioners are all good people. I hope the Chinese government stops persecuting them. I left China in 1948. Now my family and myself would like to visit my motherland. But if the crackdown continues like this, how could we go back?" In a sharp contrast to the high-spirited celebration, Jiang Zemin and his overseas followers did not rest in their relentless effort to persecute Falun Gong. According to the celebration's organizer, the Flushing Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Consulate in New York threatened to withdraw from the parade if Falun Gong practitioners were allowed to participate. They demanded that Falun Gong be removed from the parade. The organizer refused their ridiculous demand. From this incident we learned that the majority of overseas Chinese are clear-headed and they don't believe the lies. They know the difference between good and evil. This incident also sent a strong message to Jiang Zemin's followers: You have no support from the people. What you are doing will be totally in vain.
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