Chicago: Moving Stories at Buckingham Fountain (Photos)

By Minghui Reporter Xu Qing

(Clearwisdom.net) Buckingham Fountain is a landmark of Chicago and a world-famous tourist spot. Practitioners in Chicago have held several truth-clarification activities here during the past six years. In September, 2005, they held another activity to tell people about the children of practitioners persecuted in China.

"Thank you, little girl!"

"I would like to sign in support of Falun Gong."

"I have a big family. I will ask every one of them to sign."

"I am a mother... The persecution is ridiculous!"

A group of young people sign their names in support of Falun Gong

"I am touched. I will sign to support you."

Jiang, then Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party, launched a genocidal persecution of Falun Gong in July, 1999. At least 2731 people have died from the persecution. Thousands have been forced into mental hospitals. More than six thousand have been thrown into jails. A hundred thousand have been illegally sent to forced labor camps. Many children of Falun Gong practitioners became orphans. About ten million children have been affected by the persecution. Many of them were forced to leave their schools and homes and were even detained together with their parents. They suffer from discrimination and psychological devastation.

Children in the Chicago Minghui School have worked together with practitioners to tell tourists from all over the world, especially from China, about the need to rescue children facing persecution. Many moving episodes occurred at the Buckingham Fountain.

When little Falun Gong practitioners jointed the activity for the first time, many people got flyers from them. Most of them had never heard about how the persecution had harmed innocent kids. They were shocked.

An African American couple and their kids happened to be there. Upon hearing about the persecution, their kids joined the practitioners to distribute flyers. Tourists from China were surprised when American children greeted them with "Falun Dafa is good." They took flyers from the children with smiles. They worked tirelessly for more than three hours. When Falun Gong practitioners thanked the parents, the parents said, "You are very nice people. We like to see our kids with you."

Practitioners made and distributed paper lotus flowers. Many girls were fascinated by the pretty lotus flowers and learned how to fold them on the spot. Practitioners told them about the persecution in China, and that many children there need help.

Little girls wait in line to sign. They appreciate the pretty lotuses.

Beautiful lotus flowers inspire their kindness. A four-year-old girl held a pink lotus in her hand and said, "I can write my name. Can I sign?" She wrote her name neatly on a postcard about rescuing Falun Gong children in China."

A mother of a little girl learned about the persecution of Falun Gong from practitioners. She said, "My company made an investment in China two months ago. I will go to China for inspection next month. I didn't know that such things were still happening." After talking with a Falun Gong practitioner for thirty minutes she said, "Can I take some more materials with me? I will tell the Chinese what happened. I think I should reconsider my investment in China."

A tourist signed a postcard to President Bush calling for attention to Falun Gong orphans. She said, "I have a big family. I will take some cards and ask everyone to sign. We support you on stopping the persecution!"

A restaurant customer signs his name

Beautiful lotus flowers inspire girls' kindness

One Falun-Gong-practitioner couple has a Chinese restaurant. An American family has been their customers for many years. They learned about the persecution and didn't hesitate to sign in support of rescuing Falun Gong orphans.

A woman watched practitioners do the exercises and read the display boards. She said firmly, "You are doing something absolutely right." She signed in support of us.

Clarifying the truth to tourists

"I would like to sign in support of Falun Gong."

People are shocked to learn about the persecution.

Many Chinese Americans visit Buckingham Fountain on weekends. Some of them told us, "I firmly believe the wrong will be rectified sooner or later." Some took flyers with a smile and others read the display boards.

Ms. Xiao from the Minghui School told us that her school would continue the truth-clarification activity at Buckingham Fountain to help rescue Falun Gong orphans. It is a good way to get children Falun Gong practitioners involved and to call for attention to children being persecuted in China.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/9/26/111259.html

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