(Clearwisdom.net) It was a perfect, sunny day in New York on November 13, 2004. As usual, we started a day of promoting Falun Dafa and clarifying the truth close to the pier in Fulton. After a quick setup, a group of us started doing the exercises to the soothing Dafa music. The atmosphere was tranquil and calm.

Group exercise practice

Two elderly practitioners took the duty of reenacting torture methods for the whole day. They took turns demonstrating the Tiger Bench and being confined in a small cage so that other practitioners could do other jobs of truth-clarification. The practitioner who played a policeman stood for the entire day.

Passers-by in Manhattan stopped to find out more about the persecution of Falun Gong

As the day progressed, things became busier and busier. Some people stopped to watch the anti-torture exhibition. Some listened to truth clarification. Some took printed materials so they could find out more about Falun Gong. Some people signed their names on petitions against the persecution. It was a peaceful and moving scene.

A Falun Gong practitioner clarifies truth to passers-by

Some practitioners formed groups of two or three to distribute flyers at intersections. Some continuously sent forth righteous thoughts. In this peaceful field, passers-by continued to sign their names against the persecution and many took truth-clarification materials.

People sign their names against the persecution of Falun Gong.

A young woman, who is a performance artist and painter, told Falun Gong practitioners, "This is the most compelling art I have ever seen. Though you are not professional performers, your performance is so vivid and devoted. You are truly artists. Your performance can touch people's hearts. You have so much cohesive force. Everyone played a full role. Your cooperation is perfect." When a Falun Gong practitioner told her that they had paid all the costs of the event with their own money, the young woman said that it was the true art because true art was not for any personal benefit. The practitioner said that all they wanted to do was to tell people about the persecution. The artist told the practitioners that the exhibit was successful, as it was so thought provoking.

A woman and her two daughters passed the anti-torture exhibit. The woman kept shaking her head and said her two daughters were very afraid. A practitioner told the two girls, "Don't be afraid. This is what is happening in China. Some bad people are persecuting good people there. So, we need your help." The two girls nodded their heads in understanding. The mother kept saying, "Thank you!"

A young man photographed the anti-torture exhibition with his cell phone while listening to a Falun Gong practitioner's truth-clarification. He said, "My mom can watch it now. It has been sent to her via e-mail. I will also send it to my sister, brother and friends..."

A man came to our anti-torture exhibit and asked, "I pass here every day and I visit your websites pretty often. Why don't you collect signatures?" The practitioner said, "Look, here is the signature board." He immediately went to sign his name in support of Falun Gong. He suggested that we talk to influential politicians. The practitioner said, "We hope more people will be aware of the situation. Many members of Congress have given us a lot of support also."

A woman asked a Falun Gong practitioner, "Who has sponsored the anti-torture exhibit?" The practitioner told her it was all volunteer work. She said, "You are great! You can gather so much force! Keep on! Go to every corner of Manhattan."

A young man read the display boards one by one. When he read the third board, which showed a Falun Gong practitioner who lost his legs in the persecution, the young man suddenly got on his knees and started crying. Falun Gong practitioners next to him couldn't help crying also.

A Falun Gong practitioner talked to a young man who signed his name. The young man asked how he could help. The practitioner asked him to tell more people about the persecution and asked him if he had other ideas as well. He said, "I am a member of a union. I can take some flyers and signature forms to other Union members." He suggested we hold an appeal at the United Nations. He also suggested we add an e-mail column on the signature form so that we could inform those who sign the petition about our activities.

A student of journalism at New York University spent a long time taking many pictures at the exhibit. She told Falun Gong practitioners that she would put together a news report on the Falun Gong's anti-torture activities. She asked many detailed questions about Falun Gong and what practitioners hoped the American government would do. The practitioners told her that they just wanted to let people know about the persecution. People can choose for themselves what to do.

A man from Pennsylvania signed his name to the petition and said, "Why have I never heard about all of this? Why didn't any media in Pennsylvania report about it? I will go back and tell people in Pennsylvania."