NEW YORK (FDI) -- Over 2,000 practitioners and supporters of Falun Gong from around the world gathered Saturday in several locations throughout New York City, including Times Square, Flushing and Brooklyn for rallies to expose the lies and propaganda of the Chinese regime.

In Times Square, more than 500 joined a 3-hour rally, which spanned an entire block on Broadway between 42nd and 41st Street. In Flushing, another 500 paraded down Main Street. There were also smaller rallies throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn's Chinatowns.

Falun Gong practitioners came from across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia to participate in the events.

"China Lies, People Die" -- An Obsessive Regime Exposed

In Times Square, Falun Gong practitioners gathered under a banner that read, "China Lies, People Die: Help Rescue Our Families."

Rally organizers say the tragedy of the SARS epidemic is not just a 'misstep' by the leadership in Beijing, but an endemic problem of the regime -- and former leader Jiang Zemin in particular, who is widely believed to still hold the reigns of power in the authoritarian state -- placing an obsessive view of power above the interests, and the very lives, of its people.

"The SARS tragedy demonstrates the regime's willingness to lie and spread propaganda for its own self-interest, even when the lives of millions are at stake," explains Falun Dafa Information Center spokesman, Mr. Levi Browde. "For almost four years, we have witnessed this regime severely persecute Falun Gong, and then lie and spread propaganda to the world to cover it up. The nature of this regime poses an extraordinary threat not just to China but also to the world."

Volunteers handed out flyers to passers-by that provided information on the persecution of Falun Gong in China, the U.S. lawsuit against Jiang Zemin for genocide against Falun Gong and the extensive efforts by Jiang Zemin to hide both of these facts from his own people and the world.

The flyers also described on-going efforts to investigate and bring to justice all Chinese officials who participate in the persecution of Falun Gong.

Family Members Tell of Loved Ones Imprisoned, Tortured in China

Thousands of tourists and native New Yorkers passed by to listen to family members tell the stories of their loved ones who had been imprisoned and/or tortured in China for their practice of Falun Gong.

Among the speakers was the fiancée of Dr. Charles Li, an American who has recently been detained and sentenced in China for alleged attempts to broadcast T.V. programs over Chinese state-run networks exposing the persecution of Falun Gong.

An eight-year-old boy named Weiwei captivated the crowd and police officers with the story of his father, Zhang Yu Hui, who was illegally detained by Chinese authorities for writing news articles exposing the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Amy Lee, a native of China who escaped to the U.S. after being tortured in a Chinese detention center for her practice of Falun Gong, also told her story.

Falun Gong Songs Echo through Times Square
Backed by Sterling Campbell, a professional drummer who plays for David Bowie, the band MIGHTY VIRTUE played a series of songs to the crowds in Times Square.

The first song, "Little Red Soldier," was written by an American who had traveled to China to raise a banner in Tiananmen Square and call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. The song appealed to the conscience of guards on Tiananmen Square, telling them not to follow Jiang Zemin in persecuting Falun Gong.

Many in the crowd listening raised their arms and cheered on the band.

Another song, "Zhen-Shan-Ren" (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) told of the dignity and uplifting nature of practicing Falun Gong, relating the personal experience of practitioners in China and around the world.

Falun Gong is practiced in more than 60 countries worldwide.

The highlight of the band's set, however, was the impassioned "Free Charles Li," a lyrical story about the plight of U.S. citizen, Dr. Charles Li, who was recently sentenced to three years in China for allegedly attempting to broadcast programs exposing the persecution of Falun Gong over China's state-run T.V. channels.

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Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 665 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER
Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+1 917-501-4441), Levi Browde (+1 914-720-0963), Erping Zhang (+1 646-533-6147), or Feng Yuan (+1 917-941-1097).
Fax: 646-792-3916 Email: faluninfoctr@nycmail.com, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/
Mailbox of FalunInfo editor@faluninfo.net

Posting date: 4/25/2003
Original article date: 4/24/2003
Category: News & Media Reports

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