(Clearwisdom.net) May 13, 2004 was the 5^th World Falun Dafa Day and also the 12^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction to the public.

Since Falun Dafa's introduction to the public in China on May 13, 1992, through word of mouth and going from heart to heart, Falun Dafa has spread to 60 countries and regions around the world with more than 100 million practitioners. Falun Dafa has directed practitioners toward goodness and helped them to improve their morality. People from different ethnic, cultural and social strata have benefited from practicing Falun Dafa. The practice by more than 100 million people offers ample evidence that Falun Dafa has played a significant and positive role in improving society, people's health and morality.

Since the establishment of World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2000, on this day every year, Falun Gong practitioners around the world celebrate in various ways.

Houston Falun Gong practitioners held an event in the plaza in front of Houston City Hall at noon on May 13 to mark the great peaceful journey of Falun Gong and to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. The event site was decorated with a bright and eye-catching giant banner reading, "World Falun Dafa Day," lotus flowers and colorful balloons; the scene was very peaceful and full of joy. Practitioners also displayed a set of posters that showed many precious historic photos of Falun Dafa, from Falun Dafa's first introduction in China in 1992, its wide spread around the world, the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, and the peaceful protest and clarification of the truth by Falun Gong practitioners.

The first part of the celebration was a cultural performance. Seven practitioners in golden Falun Gong exercises suits first demonstrated the 5 sets of relaxing and graceful Falun Gong exercises. The peaceful practice site deeply touched the entire audience. The demonstration was followed by the graceful dancing of four practitioners in colorful Tang Dynasty dresses. It was very beautiful and the spectators were moved by the majesty of the performance. Falun Gong practitioners then sang several songs such as "Coming for You" and "Falun Dafa is Good." The melody of the songs and practitioners' enthusiastic performance won warm applause from the audience.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Zhang said: "All the music and songs as well as the dance programs were composed by practitioners to demonstrate the beauty of Falun Dafa and the good demeanor of practitioners to the people. The essence of Chinese culture is actually embodied in the three words ‘Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance'."

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Wang said that he loved Falun Gong and he experienced its beauty and its great benefits in study, work, body and spirit. He said: "World Falun Dafa Day is not only a holiday for practitioners, it is becoming a holiday for all kind-hearted people around the world. World Falun Day symbolizes people's yearning for truth and justice and also shows the wide spread of Falun Dafa.

In July 1999, Jiang orchestrated the brutal of Falun Gong in Mainland China. Hundreds of thousands of innocent Falun Gong practitioners have been illegally arrested, detained, sent to labor camps, brainwashing sessions and even mental hospitals. Jiang Zemin is the chief perpetrator of the persecution and must be held accountable for his crimes. After Falun Gong practitioners filed a lawsuit against Jiang for genocide in Chicago in 2002, practitioners have also filed lawsuits against him in Belgium, Spain, Germany, Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, etc.

Reportedly, at least 6000 Falun Gong practitioners have been illegally sentenced to prison terms, over 100,000 practitioners have been sent to forced labor camps. Thousands of practitioners have been forcibly sent to psychiatric hospitals to be tortured with injections that are damaging to the central nervous system. Large groups of Falun Gong practitioners have been forcibly sent to local brainwashing centers, where they have been subjected to both physical and mental torture. Many more practitioners have been severely beaten and had large sums of money extorted from them by Jiang's followers. Falun Gong practitioners who have been illegally arrested, regardless of their age and gender, in general have been subjected to torture such as beatings or being handcuffed or shackled for extended periods in police stations and labor camps.

The second part of the event was a symbolic trial of Jiang Zemin and real-life torture models to demonstrate the persecution Chinese Falun Gong practitioners have suffered

Practitioners displayed "Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice" and "Punish Murderer Jiang Zemin" banners at the site of the trial. The whole process of the trial was very solemn and filled with a sense of justice. Three practitioners acted as judge, prosecutor and attorney for the defendant. At the end of the trial, the judge ruled that there was solid evidence of genocide, torture and crimes against humanity committed by Jiang, and that he should be held accountable for these crimes. The judge also commended the noble character and courage Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated during this persecution.

At the site of the symbolic trial, two Falun Gong practitioners acted as real-life models of torture methods used in China in order to portray the atrocities taking place in Chinese labor camps and detention centers. The scene was very striking and everyone present was deeply touched. Two practitioners testified in the trial as witnesses to describe crimes committed by Jiang Zemin in the persecution of Falun Gong.

Ms. Tang shared her personal experience in China. Ms. Tang went back China in November, 1999. She was beaten up by a gang of policemen for being a Falun Gong practitioner. She was detained and sent to Tianhe Labor Camp. When she went on a hunger strike to demand her unconditional release, she was force-fed with a concentrated salt solution by police. She almost suffocated to death.

Mr. Wang narrated his mother's plight. For refusing to give up her Falun Gong practice, Mr. Wang's mother was abducted to Nanjing Mental hospital, where she was subjected to brutal torture. Mr. Wang and his wife both practice Falun Gong, as well. The Chinese Consulate in Houston refused to renew their passports because of their involvement in Falun Gong. As a result, they can't maintain their legal status in the U.S. and thus have lost their jobs and source of income.

Ms. Zhang said: "The demonstration of torture methods can help more people understand the persecution happening in China. What we have shown today is just a tiny portion. The Jiang regime has used more than 40 torture methods in the persecution of Falun Gong. The persecution of the belief in ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' tramples on human conscience and morality. For everyone's sake and the fate of the world, the persecution of Falun Gong must end now. We are suing Jiang Zemin through legal procedures and using public symbolic trials to let the world know of Jiang regime's crimes against Falun Gong and the worldwide lawsuits against Jiang."

Ms. Chen said: "The persecution of Falun Gong was ordered by Jiang Zemin. The persecution actually was not the decision of the Chinese government and doesn't reflect the will of the Chinese people. It is Jiang who orchestrated this persecution using the power he possessed for his own interest. On one hand, Jiang is using appalling violence to persecute Falun Gong practitioners to force them to give up Falun Gong; on the other hand, he is controlling the Chinese media to run propaganda to deceive the public. Jiang is the chief perpetrator of all these crimes and he must be held accountable. We hope more people will come to learn of the bloody crimes committed by Jiang and help us end this persecution of innocent people as soon as possible."

This event received wide support from Texas elected officials. In a congratulatory letter, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee commended the positive impact of Falun Dafa on stabilizing society, and improving people's health and morality. Congressman Gene Green also commended the great compassion and forbearance of Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated in the persecution. He encouraged practitioners to continue their efforts to awaken the conscience of the world's people.

Some Houston city government staff members, including a representative of the Mayor, attended the event. One staff member from the Mayor's office was fascinated by the cultural performance. After the show, he told a practitioner: "It is so beautiful, such a beautiful practice, such peaceful people, how can they have been persecuted so brutally' It is unbelievable. I have heard often that Falun Gong is being persecuted, however, this is my first time to personally see how they persecute Falun Gong. I am deeply shocked. The persecution in China is beyond people's imagination." (Not original wording, translated based on Chinese report.)

Many passersby were attracted to watch and gratefully accepted Falun Gong truth-clarifying fliers. Some also asked for information about Falun Gong practice sites. There were also many who expressed their sympathy and support for Falun Gong practitioners.

The arrival of groups of children brought extra fun to the event. Their innocent smiling faces and curious looks seemed to tell practitioners that they had been waiting for Falun Dafa for a long time. Tended by their teachers, they watched practitioners' performances for quite a while. Some even folded their legs to do the Falun Gong meditation. The seriousness on their faces was so touching. When they were watching the cultural show, they clapped their hands rhythmically. Before they left, together with their teachers, they learned to say "Falun Dafa is good" in Chinese.

A passerby told practitioners: "I don't why I somehow walked here. I think I did the right thing. Though it seems to be a casual meeting, I believe that this will be a most precious memory in my life."

The celebration concluded with the "Falun Dafa Hao" song. Houston practitioners would have a joint celebration event with the local Chinese community later in Chinatown and an outdoor performance in Chinatown on May 15, 2004.

Ms. Zhang said: "The goodness and kindness of human nature cannot be destroyed by any force. Even though Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong has lasted nearly 5 years, facing the brutal persecution, Falun Gong practitioners continue to use their compassion and perseverance to clarify the truth of Falun Gong to the general public and validate the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." While enduring the most brutal, groundless persecution, practitioners have used their rational and peaceful actions and even their lives to safeguard the truth. Meanwhile, practitioners have also showed the world the beauty of Falun Dafa and brought the people a bright future."