(Clearwisdom.net)

MARIN COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

RESOLUTION ON FALUN GONG AND ITS PRACTITIONERS

Whereas, Falun Gong is a peaceful and deeply spiritual form of personal belief and practice with many of the practitioners in the County of Marin and throughout the United States of America and the world: and

Whereas, practitioners of Falun Gong have conducted peaceful and meditative demonstrations in many places in the United States including the San Francisco Bay Area: and

Whereas, Chinese consular officials have pressured local elected officials in the United States to refuse or withdraw support for the Falun Gong spiritual movement; and

Whereas, the Marin County Human Rights Commission firmly believes in upholding a citizen's First Amendment right to freedom, personal belief and practice, expression, and assembly; and

Whereas, the Marin County Human Rights Commission also firmly believes in upholding every citizen's fundamental right to practice and pursue their belief system in a peaceful and law abiding manner;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, the Marin County Human Rights Commission urges the Government of the People's Republic of China to immediately stop interfering with the exercise of spiritual beliefs and political freedoms within the United States, such as the right to practice Falun Gong, that are guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States: and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Commission urges the Government of the People's Republic of China to cease using its diplomatic missions in the United States to spread misinformation about the nature of Falun Gong: and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Commission urges the Attorney General of the United States to fully investigate reports that Chinese consular officials have committed illegal acts while attempting to intimidate or inappropriately influence Falun Gong practitioners or local elected officials, and, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determine an appropriate legal response; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Marin County Human Rights Commission extends respect and protection of the free beliefs and peaceful activities of Falun Gong practitioners:

Adopted, the Marin County Human Rights Commission on the 14th day of January, two thousand and three.

George Pegelow

Commission Chair

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