(Clearwisdom.net) In the afternoon of January 31, 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 to pass a resolution condemning the persecution of Falun Gong. The resolution was introduced by Supervisor Chris Daly. Major San Francisco media reported on the resolution.

According to a report by CBS 5 on the same day, the Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 to condemn the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The report said that Falun Gong practitioners face considerable persecution in China.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the resolution for two consecutive days. Its report on February 1 was titled "Supervisors condemn mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners." "San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday [January 31] to condemn the persecution of Falun Gong followers in general, a victory for the spiritual movement in its battle for public acceptance," the report said.

Sherry Zhang accepts media interview

Falun Gong spokeswoman Sherry Zhang told the Chronicle that the resolution is an assurance that in San Francisco the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners are protected and the resolution boosts practitioners persecuted in China.

The report said that Beijing had often delved into the details of Chinese communities overseas, and the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco had monitored the loyalties of family and district associations in Chinatown.

Practitioners pointed out that the most recent political advertisement in the Chronicle by the Chinese Chamber violated a grant agreement with the city by openly criticizing Supervisor Fiona Ma for her support of the resolution and slandering Falun Gong.

According to the Chronicle, Ma said that she was standing up for civil rights, specifically the guarantee of freedom of religious affiliation. Ma is the only Asian American on the board.

On February 1, the UPI also reported on the resolution. The report said that China banned Falun Gong in 1999 and has imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners.

Practitioner Steve recounts facts of the persecution in front of a crowd of reporters

The report said that Supervisor Fiona Ma voted for the resolution despite newspaper advertising placed by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce that attacked her. "Ma said her vote stands up for the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of freedom of religion," the report wrote.

According to a report by KESQ CHANNEL 3 ABC on February 1, "The board's nine-to-two vote yesterday was met with applause in a City Hall chamber packed with Falun Gong practitioners ..."

Posting date: 2/4/2006
Original article date: 2/3/2006
Category: News & Media Reports
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/2/2/119995.html