Austria: Citizens' Reactions to our Sit-in and Candlelight Vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna

A practitioner from Austria

On February 14, 2002 we held a sit-in and candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese embassy in Vienna. Since we had been there quite frequently already, people in the neighborhood were familiar with us and support us with word and deed.

Here I will write down some examples of how the citizens reacted to our effort:

- A woman parked her car in front of us. As she came out of the car I offered her a newspaper. She said that she already had all the literature, and that she lived right across the street. Then she offered to bring us hot tea.

- A policeman who had been on duty several times when we had congregated there before told us that we didn't have his sympathies today. Because of us, he said, he would have to work an hour of overtime. But later he returned to me and said, "In any event, I want you to know that from the top on down we fully understand your actions and what you are trying to do."

- Another policeman added, "We have lately told our superiors if all demonstrators behaved as peacefully as the people who belong to Falun Gong it would make our job much easier."

My husband offered a newspaper to a woman from the neighborhood as she climbed into her car. She declined to accept it but said, motioning him to her, "I want to tell you, though, that I admire all of you for your perseverance in this matter. Really admire you!"

(Original text in German)

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