By practitioners from Illinois, USA

(Clearwisdom.net May 24, 2003) On May 20, at the state capital, Springfield, Illinois Falun Gong practitioners held "Illinois Falun Dafa Month" celebrations and a "Journey towards Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" photo exhibition in the Capitol Hall.

Explaining the facts	Look, the dictator is being sued in court!

Practitioner's performance	áViewing the display boards	áHow is my learning?

áPractitioners prepared well for this activity. Practitioners from the University of Illinois applied for the approval to use the Capitol Hall to conduct the activity. Chicago practitioners prepared truth-clarifying packets to be delivered to the legislators. Practitioners also prepared some art performances.

The Illinois Capitol is a domed-structure that has a long history. It has a royal and majestic appearance and its interior is resplendently decorated. Our activity was held in the center of the building. Endless streams of people came to visit the building. That day coincided with the state legislative session, and State assemblymen and senators were all in Springfield. Practitioners used this opportunity to meet their representatives and introduce Dafa to them as well as the true situation of the persecution in China.

The legislators and their assistants were all aware of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. They all expressed their support for Falun Gong practitioners and condemned the Jiang regime's violations of freedom of belief. They were very shocked to learn about the harassment received by Chicago Falun Gong practitioners, the "blacklist" issue and the hate crimes committed against practitioners. When some legislators heard that Chicago practitioners filed a lawsuit against the Chinese dictator and will bring the dictator to justice, they expressed that he should have been tried a long time ago. Some legislators said that they would write letters or make phone calls to their congressmen to express their concerns about this issue.

Practitioners' art performances and exercise demonstration attracted much attention from many visitors. Dafa music reverberated in the hall. Some practitioners heard staff members talking about Dafa music in the elevators. One said, "The music is so beautiful!" Another said, "Yeah! I felt immediate relaxation upon listening to it." More tourists and staff members stopped to look at our photo exhibition and exercise demonstration. Many high school students even copied our movements doing the sitting meditation. We were amazed to see that many of them could even sit in full lotus position immediately.

The most influential newspaper in the local area, the State-Journal-Register, came to cover the entire activity.