California: Anti-torture Exhibition Shocks Faculty and Students at University of California, Berkeley (Photos)

By a practitioner in the San Francisco Bay Area

(Clearwisdom.net) On March 29 and 30, 2005, practitioners in the Bay Area of northern California held an anti-torture exhibition and truth-clarification poster show at the University of California, Berkeley, which caught the attention of many faculty and students. They were shocked and could hardly believe that, in the civilized world of the 21^st Century, this cruel persecution could be going on in China right now and for the past almost six years. People signed their names to support the anti-torture effort.

During the two-day event, practitioners reenacting the torture methods being used to persecute practitioners in China were on one side of the student association square, while other practitioners demonstrating the five exercises to soothing music were on the other side. The two activities were in striking contrast and provided a unique campus experience.

Reenactment of torture methods

Falun Gong exercise demonstration

Learning the exercises

The reenactments depicted three of the countless tortures that Falun Gong practitioners in China have suffered during the past five plus years:

"Being confined to an iron cage"- In China, the cage is so small that one cannot stand up or sit down.

Tiger bench torture - Practitioners are tied to a long, narrow bench. Bricks are placed under the heels, causing extreme pain in the calf muscles.

"Hanging" torture - Practitioners are tied in a standing position with only the tips of their toes touching the ground. Police beat or shock the practitioners with electric batons.

The truth-clarification posters provided descriptions of other methods of torture that Falun Gong practitioners have suffered in China, as well as practitioners' personal accounts of their physical and mental tortures, and the plight of US Citizen Charles Li. Charles Li went to China in January 2003 with plans to tell the Chinese people about the brutal persecution of practitioners in China. He was unlawfully imprisoned, handcuffed and force-fed. He has been sentenced to hard labor and is still in prison. The poster explained how kind-hearted people can help rescue Charles Li.

Truth clarification

Reading carefully

Many faculty and students passed the student association square and were shocked at the sight. Many stopped and watched attentively and read the posters.

Faculty and students at the University of California, Berkeley sign their names to support practitioners' anti-torture efforts.

After learning about the facts of the persecution, faculty and students signed their names to support practitioners' anti-torture efforts.

A faculty member said that she would use the persecution as a lecture topic for her students.

Some students said that they would make the persecution the topic of their research projects.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/4/2/98717.html

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