By Dafa Practitioners in Columbia, Missouri

(Clearwisdom.net) On July 1, 2002, prominent artist Ms. Zhang Cuiying's painting exhibition was held in the halls of the Missouri State Capitol.

In the opening ceremony, Ms. Zhang recounted her experience of being imprisoned for 8 months in China for speaking out for Falun Gong.

When being interviewed by a TV reporter, she mentioned that she would sell one of her favorite works. Half of the proceeds would be donated to the "9.11" foundation and the other half to the Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance foundation. The artist had stopped selling her original works, but she wanted to do something for the children who lost their parents in the "9.11" tragedy. Ms. Zhang remembers the hardship of her young daughter when she herself was imprisoned and wanted to do something for the victims of 9.11. She called on people to oppose terrorism, including the Jiang regime's state-run terrorism against Falun Gong practitioners. If everyone follows "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," terrorism would not exist.

Many local people came to enjoy the Chinese traditional art. They were shocked to hear that the artist was tortured in China and could not understand the Jiang regime's persecution. Some said that the one-day exhibition was too short. Some of the staff working in the State Capitol said that they felt fortunate to participate in such a beautiful exhibition.

In the afternoon, Ms. Zhang visited state government officials and presented replicas of her work, which were warmly accepted by members of the Governor's staff.