Gerry Smith's 336 Hours in front of the Chinese Embassy (Series Report 1)

Falun Dafa practitioners in Ottawa

[Clearwisdom] People of Canada have been moved by the appeal of Falun Gong practitioner Gerry Smith in front of the Chinese Embassy. He agreed to be there 24 hours a day for 14 consecutive days. We will have follow-up reports on this event.

1. "There is no precondition for practicing cultivation" (Page 5 of Zhuan Falun)

Originally Gerry made arrangement to take a vacation. Then he heard that 15 female Falun Dafa practitioners were tortured to death at Wanjia. The Chinese government not only did not punish the murderers, but also spread the lie that the 15 innocent Falun Dafa practitioners committed suicide. When he heard that they planned to use torture to brainwash the remaining Dafa practitioners by July 20, Gerry was shocked.

On the morning of July 5, Gerry decided to use his compassionate heart to stop the escalating persecution of Falun Gong and to clear Falun Gong's name. He decided to use his vacation for a sit-in in front of the embassy for the 14 days until July 20, instead.

When fellow practitioners said, "please wait until we send out a media advisory." Gerry said without hesitation, "I can not wait!"

His pure heart moved everyone.

2. "When one's Buddha-nature emerges, it will shake 'the world of ten directions.'" (Page 5 of Zhuan Falun)

Because of the pressure from the Chinese embassy, many newspapers in the Chinese community have not dared to report anything about Falun Gong. However, an editor of a Chinese community newspaper was moved by Gerry's actions. For the first time ever, he interviewed a Falun Gong practitioner. He told Gerry that, although he has remained silent about Falun Gong for nearly two years, he could remain silent no longer.

The cars passing by often reduce their speed and honk to encourage Gerry. Some people yell "Gerry" to cheer him on.

More than ten newspapers and TV stations have interviewed Gerry. A French TV station interviewed him for more than an hour. On Saturday evening, CJOH TV station interviewed Gerry and reported on the escalating atrocities of Jiang Zemin's regime. An elderly couple that lived in the western district of Ottawa came a long way on the weekend in order to support Gerry after watching the report of CJOH TV station. Residents of the city sent water or expressed sympathy in other ways. People continued to sign their names in support of Falun Gong.

Gerry's action also made an impact on Falun Gong practitioners. Practitioners in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal joined the 336 hour sit-in to support Gerry and end the atrocities. Falun Gong practitioners all over the country took to the streets displaying banners saying "SOS! Urgent: Rescue the Falun Gong Practitioners Persecuted in China." Practitioners also distributed all kinds of literature exposing the crimes of Jiang Zemin's regime. They collected signatures and urged all of society to come to the emergency rescue of Falun Gong practitioners.

3. "Don't wait, don't rely on others"

Even though Gerry has practiced Falun Gong for two years, he just started reading Zhuan Falun at the end of last year. When he read about the unprecedented and unreasonable persecution of Falun Gong in China, Gerry had to take action. He continued to appeal to the prime minister, senators, different organizations and individuals everywhere, asking them to help stop the irrational suppression of Falun Gong. It is not just human rights that are being suppressed, it is the suppression of the universal law of "truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance."

On the same day Gerry learned that 15 female Falun Dafa practitioners illegally detained in Wanjia Labor Camp were murdered, he sent urgent appeals to the United Nations and to many organizations.

As a result of Gerry's actions, practitioners in Ottawa understood Teacher's words in "To All Students at the Nordic Fa Conference," "So in clarifying the truth, don't wait, don't rely on others, and don't just hope for changes in external factors." With this understanding in mind, practitioners in Ottawa joined Gerry's appeal.

(To be continued...)

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.ca/mh/articles/2001/7/11/13204.html

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