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Why They Protested Against Jiang (Part II)
(Clearwisdom.net) From October 23 to October 25, 2002, around 2,000 Falun
Gong practitioners came to Houston, U.S.A and held a series of peaceful
activities, protesting Jiang's persecution of Falun Gong. News reporters
interviewed some practitioners. Below are some of the stories.
(Continued from a previous article)
(4) Former Chinese Classmate, "I Had No Choice"
Mr. Li came from Washington, D.C. and is around 40 years of age. He told the
news reporter, "For the past three years, since July 1999, many practitioners
have been tortured to death, more than 500 death cases have been verified, all
dying within a period of 1,000 days, which means that every second day one Falun
Gong practitioner dies as a result of the persecution." He added, "My good
friends and former colleagues are also among the persecuted practitioners, being
persecuted merely for telling people the truth. As for me, I only needed to
apply for some time off from my job and spend a little money, which is no big
deal."
Mr. Li also told the reporter an interesting story, "At around 11:00 a.m.
yesterday, October 23, the group of people hired to 'welcome' Jiang slowly
arrived. Suddenly, a member in the welcoming group said, 'Oh my God, is that
you?' He was my former classmate whom I haven't seen for several years. After we
talked for a while he told me, 'I truly admire you guys. I joined this 'welcome
group' because I didn't have a choice. Our group didn't have enough funding."
(5) Young Canadian Man: "My Grades Won't Be Affected"
A Western practitioner, Jason, is a sophomore at Toronto University's
Department of Engineering. In order to participate in this peaceful protest, he
took a bus to Chicago and then a plane to Houston. When the reporter asked him
whether these activities would affect his schoolwork, Jason explained, "In fact,
I had two midterms this week. When I explained to my professor why I had to
leave class to participate in these activities, he showed great understanding
and agreed to postpone the midterm to next week, though he usually doesn't do
that. This will allow me time to study after the conclusion of these activities,
so my grades should not be affected."
Jason said prior to experiencing the benefits of Falun Gong he had health
problems. After cultivation, his health as well as his immune system greatly
improved. For the past three years he did not need to take any medicine. Jason
said with sincerity, "I know from first-hand experience that Jiang's propaganda
about Falun Gong is completely untrue. I absolutely cannot accept the
suppression and persecution against Falun Gong. I came here because I want
people to know how much Jiang is responsible for this persecution."
Jason also told the reporter that in November of last year, he went to
Tiananmen Square with other Western practitioners from 11 different countries
for a peaceful sit-in protest, where they unfurled a huge banner reading,
"Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance." They did this in order to tell the
Chinese people that Falun Gong is welcomed everywhere in the world, and the
world is paying attention to the persecution against Falun Gong in China.
Jason told the reporter further that during the protest across from the
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Chicago, many "welcome group" members stood beside the
practitioners. Many of them were young students like him, except they had been
deluded by Jiang's government's vicious lies and bore enmity toward Falun Gong.
Jason said, "Looking at their young faces, I wanted from the depth of my heart
to tell them that Falun Gong has brought people physical and spiritual health. I
wanted to tell them, 'Jiang is illegally persecuting Falun Gong! Don't listen to
his lies and don't hate Falun Gong, because that will be bad for you.'"
He purified his mind and his surrounding environment by sending forth
righteous. Then he turned toward the welcoming group and began singing. The
lyrics to one of the songs, "I came for you," are as follows: "From thousands of
mountains and rivers, I came for you once and again; I came for you because I
love you; precious Chinese people, please listen to my heart. Falun Dafa is
good, Falun Dafa is good..."
Jason said he sang with his full heart and many people listened attentively.
He saw some Chinese students' eyes brim with tears.
At the reporter's request, Jason sang the song again in Chinese, "From
thousands of mountains and rivers, I came for you once and again. Precious
Chinese people, to you the whole world is saying, Falun Dafa is good, Falun Dafa
is good, please don't miss this opportunity for ten thousands lives..." His
voice was pure and sincere. Even though his voice was not very loud, it was
quite touching.
(6) "Does the Persecution Have to Do With Norway?"
Regina is a Western practitioner from Germany. She lives in Oslo, Norway, and
is a doctor studying genetics. She has practiced Falun Gong for almost four
years. When she heard of Jiang's plans to go to Houston, she immediately decided
to come to join the protest. She stood across the front door of
Inter-Continental Hotel where Jiang was staying and unfurled a banner saying,
"Immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong."
The reporter asked, "What does the persecution in China have to do with
Norway?" "A great deal," Regina said. "Jiang not only spreads lies in China. He
creates slander through Chinese consulates and embassies in countries around the
world, including Norway. Many websites belonging to Chinese overseas consulates
include a special section with Falun Gong-slandering articles." Regina also told
the reporter that she had a Western friend who wanted to practice Falun Gong but
her husband stopped her because two years ago he saw Jiang's group's vicious
attacks against Falun Gong on the Internet. Regina told the reporter that the
spread of lies has poisoned the mind of some of her colleagues as well as other
people to a different extent, and it has also affected her personal life.
Regina said that in September of this year, she told the above-mentioned
friend her own experience, and in the end that friend not only abandoned
misunderstandings about Falun Gong, but began cultivation in Dafa and enjoyed
the many benefits brought about by Falun Gong. Regina is still worried, though,
and told the reporter, "In many places around the world, many people are still
being deluded by lies about Falun Gong. Falun Gong advocates 'Truthfulness,
Compassion, Tolerance.' These people truly need our help."
(To be continued)
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