Washington DC: Spotlight on Persecution on Eve of Olympic Games (Photos)

by Minghui correspondent Li Jingfei

(Clearwisdom.net) On Thursday, August 7, 2008, the eve of Beijing Olympic Games, a series of activities at the US Congress, tourist spots, Eutelsat branch office and the Chinese Embassy were held to expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) escalation of persecution to the American people, government, and media. Regarding the CCP's Internet blockade of Falun Gong websites and information, the CEO of Dong Tai Wang company demonstrated to the US Congress a variety of ways to break through the blockade.

On the evening of August 7, 2008, Falun Gong practitioners in the Greater Washington Area held a candlelight vigil to mourn their fellow practitioners who died as a result of the persecution, and condemn the CCP for persecuting Falun Gong under the cover of the Olympic Games.

On the evening of August 7, 2008, Falun Gong practitioners in the Greater Washington Area held a candlelight vigil to mourn their fellow practitioners who died as a result of the persecution and condemn the CCP for persecuting Falun Gong under the cover of the Olympic Games. Local TV Station Channel 9 reported the vigil.

According to a report by the Falun Dafa Information Center in July, 8037 illegal arrest cases have been documented in 29 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions since December 2007, with more than five hundred occurring in Beijing. More than thirty Falun Gong practitioners were sent to forced labor camps for terms as long as thirty months.

Falun Gong spokesperson Mr. Erping Zhang said, "The long prison terms of Falun Gong practitioners indicates the persecution is unrelated to the CCP's so-called guarantee for a 'harmonious Olympic Games.' Falun Gong practitioners don't pose any threat to the Olympic Games, but the Olympics was used as the CCP's pretext to throw Falun Gong practitioners into prison."

Service Center for Quitting the CCP, in front of the National Air and Space Museum

Tourists read display posters

It was a hot day of 91^oF. Three outstanding yellow banners in front of the National Air and Space Museum caught the eyes of tourists. Written on the banners were "Falun Dafa Is Good," "Truth Compassion Forbearance," and "CCP is Doomed. Quit the CCP to Be Safe." in both Chinese and English. Several posters exposing the persecution were displayed on the grass. A stream of tourists visited the display and obtained printed materials. Volunteers from the Service Center for Quitting the CCP distributed the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and other materials to tourists.

Beijing lifted the ban on the BBC, Amnesty International and some other websites under international pressure. However, all websites related to Falun Gong are still blocked. Falun Gong has become a topic of concern for foreign reporters and Chinese people.

Bill Xia, CEO of Dong Tai Wang, demonstrated to media reporters and attendees how to break through the CCP blockade at the Cannon Building of the House of Representatives. Mr. Xia said the software developed by the Global Internet Freedom Consortium has become the most popular software for breaking through the Internet blockade in China. The number of Chinese users has continually increased during the past several weeks. The Chinese people are paying attention to what was happening before and during the Olympic Games, and are realizing that the CCP blocked all information channels. This new technology to circumvent the Internet blockade opens a door to allow the Chinese to visit blocked overseas websites to learn the facts.

NTDTV holds a press conference at the US Congress on August 7, 2008

Peaceful protest in front of Eutelsat branch office continues on August 7

Peaceful protest in front of Eutelsat branch office continues on August 7

On the same day, media in Washington paid closer attention to the Eutelsat cut-off of NTDTV's signals to China. NTDTV held a press conference at the Cannon Building, of the US Congress. An employee of NTDTV read an updated announcement from NTDTV and played an introductory video about NTDTV. Several people from Congress, the BBG and the media attended the press conference.

Supporters of NTDTV continued the peaceful protest in front of the Eutelsat branch office near the White House. They held banners and distributed fliers. A local TV station reported on the protest.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2008/8/8/183689.html

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