By Canadian practitioners

(Clearwisdom.net September 21) At 10:30 a.m. on September 18, Toronto practitioners held a press conference at Nathan Phillips Square in front of Toronto's City Hall to announce the kick-off of an 8-day bike tour from Toronto to Ottawa. This bike tour has been initiated to call on the Canadian Prime Minister to appeal to China to stop persecuting Falun Gong, release all detained practitioners and rescue persecuted family members back to Canada, during the Prime Minister's visit to China next month. According to spokesman David Tompkins, the bike tour team consists of 8 people. On the way to Ottawa, they will visit members of Parliament, state representatives, mayors, and they will also held a series of press conferences. They will finish the Bike Tour on September 25 and join a rally in Ottawa.

Practitioner reads a statement during the press conference	Bike Team member Li Zhang addressed to the media during the press conference	Bike Team members presented an appeal letter to an assistant of the Toronto mayor

A Bike Team member mentioned in the statement that 4 relatives of Canadian citizens and residents persecuted in China have been rescued to Canada with the help of the Canadian government, and 8 more were released. However, there are still 15 relatives detained for practicing Falun Gong, and 2 relatives have been tortured to death. According to David Tompkins, the Bike Tour is 470 km long, and will travel through more than 10 cities. The team will hold press conferences, visit mayors and representatives and collect signatures. They will join the "Rescue Loved Ones and Public Trial of Jiang" rally in Ottawa on September 25.

During the press conference, two team members held a banner that read "Help Rescue Loved Ones and Bring Jiang Zemin To Justice," another 8 practitioners held pictures of loved ones persecuted by Jiang's regime and posters about the global trial against Jiang. All of the team members wore clothes that read, "Biking in support of Falun Gong" and "Rescue Our Loved Ones."

Team member Wang Gu said, "My wife's cousin Yuling Wu is still detained in Banqiao Detention Center of Tianjin. According to family members who visited her, she suffered from all kinds of torture. Her body was covered with cuts and bruises. Her head was injured and bled continuously. She was rushed to hospital for rescue. Her face was bruised and swollen. It looked very scary. Her husband couldn't even recognize her during his visit. Due to the relentless persecution, her mother has had a mental collapse and her uncle has lapsed into a coma; both need special care."

Team member Rebecca said, "My purpose for joining this activity is to call on the Canadian Prime Minister to help to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China and release all detained Falun Gong practitioners."

The press conference concluded by singing "Walk with Me," which was composed by a Toronto practitioner. The 8 team members circled the square on their bikes and then hit the road. They will ride for 8 days. After the press conference, 4 team members delivered an appeal letter to Toronto's mayor.

Posting date: 9/24/2003
Original article date: 9/23/2003
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide

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