(Clearwisdom.net) Clearwisdom Correspondent Lin
Xinyuan reports from Washington: Since July 20, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners
from around the world have been gathering in Washington DC to hold a series of
activities including a public rally, parade and candlelight vigil to call for an
end to the Jiang group's state terrorism and the persecution and killing of
Falun Gong practitioners.
Bicycle Team comes from Canada to Save the Persecuted Kids
In order to expose the Jiang group's persecution of children
who practice Falun Gong, a group of Canadian teenagers rode bicycles from
Toronto to Washington DC. The route was 1200 km, and took 23 days. They arrived
in Washington on July 22, and invited people and teenagers in Washington DC to
join "Save China's Persecuted Kids Bicycles Parade" on July 22. Adults
and teenagers in Washington DC joined the bicycle team in Chevy Chase Circle
Park between Maryland and DC, and held a 13-km "Save China's Persecuted
Kids Bicycles Parade," kicking off the series of July 20th
activities in Washington DC.
On the morning of July 22, a parade of about 130 bicycles,
protected and led by police, rode toward the Chinese Embassy to hold a press
conference and deliver an appeal letter that requests the Chinese Embassy to
transfer the concerns of Falun Gong practitioners from over 60 countries over
the persecution of Falun Gong.
After that, the bicycle team set off from the Chinese
Consulate to Capitol Hill to participate in a rally. They were well received by
the audience.
Seventeen-year-old Ye Jin, who took part in the bike tour,
said, "There are many children in China who share the same belief with us,
but since the persecution of Falun Gong began, some children have become
orphans, and some have been forced to drop out of school. Such unfairness must
be stopped. We hope to use our voices to awaken people's conscience, and hope
that more people can join us to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in
China."
Kevin Koo said, "The bicycle team has 17 members; their
ages are ranged from 13 to 17. We have obtained support and encouragement from
people on the way. We hope the persecution will end soon, and also hope that
children in China can freely practice the exercises like us."
Thousands of People Gather on Capitol Hill to Call for an End
to the Persecution and Stop Terror
At noon on July 22, Falun Gong practitioners from around the
world and other supporters held a rally with the theme of "Uncompromising
Courage" on Capitol Hill. They called for stopping the Jiang group's state
terrorism and called for an end to the persecution and killing of Falun Gong
practitioners.
During the rally, US congress members as well as dignitaries
from different circles and representatives of "Save the Kids in China"
bicycle team made speeches. There were also singing and dancing performances.
Los Angeles Falun Gong practitioners' dance, "Going to Tiananmen,"
expressed the scene of Falun Gong practitioners traveling to Tiananmen Square
one after another to explain the truth about Falun Gong, and displayed Falun
Gong practitioners' persistence in their belief and their uncompromising spirit
while being persecuted.
Two Congressmen and representatives from eight
non-governmental organizations attended the rally and made speeches.
Mr. Mark Palmer, vice chairman of "Freedom House"
and representative of Friends of Falun Gong, Dr. Keith Roderick, Director of
International Christian Association, Ms. Faith J.H. McDonnell, Director of
Religious and Democratic Association, Congresswoman of Florida Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, Representative of Pennsylvania Faith J.H. McDonnell, Executive
President of "Freedom House," Ms. Jennifer L. Windsor, and the
President of Jubilee Campaign USA, Ms.
Ann Buwalda, came to attend the rally and made
speeches to express their support.
Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a congresswoman from Florida said in
her speech, "Our peaceful journey is arduous, but you have clearly
displayed your uncompromising persistence and your inner strength¡ªthat inner
strength obtained from your belief.... Today, we get together again to continue
resisting persecution and killing against Falun Gong practitioners world-wide...
I guarantee to continue my effort for Falun Gong until the persecution
stops...."
Executive President Dan Fefferman of the International
Religious Freedom Association sent a letter to express his support. He said,
"China is the largest country concerning its population. But if it really
wants to become a great nation, China must follow basic human rights. If China
continues suppressing Falun Gong or other organizations that practice their
beliefs, China's development will be seriously hindered."
Artist Mr. Mark Jenkins exhibited the torture props he made.
He said that he saw Falun Gong practitioners' practice the exercises outside the
Chinese Consulate three years ago, and he was deeply moved. Several days ago, he
saw Falun Gong practitioners' anti-torture exhibit, and he had an idea to make
props. He said the persecution is really inconceivable.
Parade Calls for an End to the Persecution and Terror
After the rally, Falun Gong practitioners set off from the
west lawn of Capitol Hill, and paraded to the front of the White House. Almost
every practitioner held a banner or display board, with the words, "Falun
Dafa is Good," "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance," "Stop
the Persecution," "Bring Jiang to Justice" and "Stop Jiang's
Group's Extending State Terrorism," and other words.
A group of young women in white holding handmade lotuses
walked at the front of the parade. There were also two large wreathes, one was
imprinted with one word, "Mourn," the other contained photos of some
practitioners who have died from the persecution. There was also a very large
monument engraved with names of practitioners who have died.
In the middle of the procession was a vehicle on which
torture methods that Falun Gong practitioners in China suffer were reenacted.
Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Sun said, "I came here just
to call upon governments, groups and kind people to work together with us to
stop the suppression and persecution of Falun Gong in China, and stop the Jiang
group from extending state terrorism and various kinds of attacks and harassment
of Falun Gong practitioners overseas."
Live Torture-Exhibit Exposes Jiang's Evildoings
Beside the rally site, practitioners held a live torture
exhibit, which exposed atrocities taking place in Chinese mental hospitals,
being hung up with handcuffs, Tiger Bench, hammering bamboo sticks into fingers,
dead person's bed, being hung upside down, being tied up and being locked in a
small metal cage.
According to Falun Gong practitioners' introduction, the
anti-torture exhibit has been displayed in several places in Washington DC for
several days.
Over the past five years, the Jiang group has used various
physical and mental torture methods on practitioners. The torture methods used
in this unprecedented persecution have been well over 100.
Five-year Bloody Persecution, Peaceful and Long-suffering
Journey of Kind People
On July 20 five years ago, a nation-wide brutal suppression
of Falun Gong practitioners began under Jiang's orders. According to incomplete
statistics, at least three hundred thousand practitioners across China were
illegally detained and beaten. Over the past five years, at least 1,000
practitioners have died as a result of the persecution. The death cases cover
over 30 provinces, autonomous regions and cities.
At least 6,000 practitioners have been illegally sentenced to
prison, more than one hundred thousand practitioners have been sent to forced
labor camps, thousands of practitioners have been sent to mental hospitals to be
injected with drugs that damage their central-nervous system. A large number of
practitioners have been abducted and sent to brainwashing classes in different
places, more have been beaten up, physically tortured and economically extorted.
Facing violence and torture, lies and slander, Falun Gong
practitioners have not retreated, nor have they adopted any extreme measures,
but have peacefully and rationally explained the facts of Falun Gong to the
people around the world, and called for an end to the persecution. At the same
time, they have sought legal channels to uphold justice.
The Righteous will Triumph over Evil, Truth will Prevail and
Evil Persons Will be Punished
In China, from ordinary people to high-ranking government
officials, more and more people have expressed their disgust over the dictator's
irrational and brutal nature. The Jiang group's plot to attempt to extend the
persecution of Falun Gong overseas has completely failed.
The chief perpetrator Jiang Zemin has been served with
lawsuits in more than ten countries on charges of torture and genocide. Several
high-ranking officials including former Beijing Mayor Liu Qi and others were
also sentenced on default in North California Federal Court, and the court
announced that the charge of "crimes against humanity" were accepted.
Government officials, human rights organizations, religious groups and kind
people have condemned the Jiang group's persecution of Falun Gong.
Falun Gong practitioners expressed that no matter what lies
the Jiang group fabricates in China, people who have learned the truth will not
be deceived. The suppression that is based on the malicious lies will collapse
of itself with the exposure of the lies. People will condemn Jiang's atrocities,
and Jiang and his followers will be held accountable for their persecution of
Falun Gong.
