Falun Gong founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, made an appearance at the
conference, speaking to the attendees about the principles of Falun Gong as well as the human rights
violations occurring in China. |
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WASHINGTON DC (FDI)
-- Four years after former Chinese Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, launched the persecution of Falun
Gong in China, Falun Gong practitioners from around the world gathered in Washington DC to take part
in the annual Washington DC Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference.
The
conference was part of a four-day event in the nation's capital, consisting of a concert, march
and rally on Capitol Hill calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
This
year's activities in Washington DC were particularly significant for Americans as a U.S. citizen,
Dr. Charles Li, is currently imprisoned in China and subjected to beatings and "brainwashing"
sessions in an attempt to force him to renounce his practice of Falun Gong (news).
Falun
Dafa Conference Requires Two Conference Halls
The DAR Constitution Hall in Washington DC held only
part of the more than 5,000 attendees of this year's conference. |
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On Sunday,
practitioners of Falun Gong gathered at the DAR Constitution Hall -- the largest concert hall in
Washington DC. The Hall served as the main conference site for the all-day Falun Dafa Experience
Sharing Conference -- a conference where individuals prepare and read papers about their
experiences with the practice of Falun Dafa.
Volunteer
conference organizers say they were unable to find a location large enough to hold the expected
number of attendees. Thus, a nearby hotel served as a second conference site, with live video feeds
from the main conference hall.
Conference
participants came from North America, South America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Australia. The
conference -- like all Falun Dafa-related events -- was free of charge, and organized by
volunteers.
All-Day
Concert Near Capitol Building
New York-based band "Word of Mouth" performs at the Saturday
concert to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong. |
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The four-day event
began on Saturday with an all-day concert near the Capitol Building. The concert featured classical
European and Asian music and dance, and included performances by prominent artists such as Ninfang
and Rutang Chen -- 33-year veterans of China's Central Philharmonic Orchestra.
Despite
their prestige in China as classical artists, Mr. and Mrs. Chen were detained by Chinese authorities
in 2000 because they practice Falun Gong. Soon after, they escaped to live with their daughter in
the U.S.
Bands
from New York, Washington DC and Stockholm added contemporary music to the day's line-up. Many of
the songs focused on the human rights violations against Falun Gong in China.
A
highlight of the concert came when the New York-based band "Word of Mouth," backed by David
Bowie's drummer, Sterling Campbell, played "Free Charles Li" (view
video clip) -- a song about the real-life story of American Dr. Charles Li who was imprisoned
in China four months ago. Charles Li's fiancée was also present to voice her appeal for his
release.
According
to the U.S. consulate in Shanghai, Dr. Li had initiated a hunger-strike on July 14 to protest the
beatings and "brainwashing" sessions he is forced to attend, and was on hunger strike at the
time of the concert (news).
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face="Helvetica, Arial,sans-serif" color="#000000" size="2">
Over 3,000 marchers took part in
Monday's march, calling for legal action against Jiang Zemin for his role in the persecution of
Falun Gong in China. |
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March Through
Downtown DC
On
Monday, Falun Gong practitioners gathered at the Washington Monument and embarked on a march through
the streets of downtown Washington DC. With more than 3,000 marchers, the procession made its way
east to Capitol Hill, ending on the West Lawn.
Marchers
held banners and signs calling for former Chinese leader, Jiang Zemin, to be brought to justice for
his role in instigating and carrying out the persecution of Falun Gong.
Jiang
Zemin currently faces multiple international lawsuits, including a suit filed in U.S. district court
charging the former Communist Chinese leader with genocide and crimes against humanity (news).
###
NEWS - Jul. 23, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net
Background
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 757 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
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