(Minghui.org) The Liberty Bell, which rang out during the American War of Independence, is an enduring symbol of freedom and justice. Tourists from all over the world line up in Liberty Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to see the bell every day.

Falun Gong practitioners have been telling people the facts about Falun Gong at Liberty Square since 1997. Of different backgrounds and ages, they go there every day, rain or shine, summer and winter. Ms. Zhang, in her 80s, is one of them.

Tourists from China who come to see the Liberty Bell ask for Falun Gong materials and read the displays about Falun Gong and the persecution. Some of them even videotape them.

Restored to Health by Practicing Dafa, Ms. Zhang Explains the True Situation

Ms. Zhang is an elegant lady with grey hair, a kind face, and a pleasing voice. She radiates a calm energy. People can hardly tell that she is over 80 years old. Before she practiced Falun Gong a decade ago, she was very sick and was not able to walk. After Falun Dafa brought back her health, the police in China beat her and detained her because of her belief.

Ms. Zhang comes to Liberty Square seven days a week regardless of the weather. At her age, she could just stay home and have fun with her grandchildren. Why does she choose to bear these hardships? She told me the following.

“When I was in my 60s, I had all kinds of health problems. The most serious were with my heart and kidneys and arthritis. I could hardly eat anything and could barely walk. I learned Falun Gong by chance. My health improved significantly after I practiced Falun Gong for six months. All my diseases disappeared and I was back to normal. Many of my friends found it amazing and came to learn it.

“But the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started the senseless persecution of Falun Gong in 1999. I was arrested because of my belief. The police beat me. I felt sorry for the police because they were deceived and didn't know the truth. They were committing crimes without knowing it.

“As a Falun Gong practitioner I believe in God. I know the principle of 'Good will be rewarded and evil punished.' I said to them, 'When you beat me, I don't hate you. Instead I feel very sorry for you because you are the real victims. You don't know the truth and have been deceived by lies. You regard practitioners as enemies. Falun Gong teaches people to be good. We cultivate ourselves according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It is a heavenly principle that good will be rewarded and evil will be punished. You are harming yourselves out of ignorance and will destroy your own future.' Some of them understood and stopped doing evil. The truth will awaken people's consciousness.”

Helping Chinese People Understand the True Situation

Ms. Zhang has been able to practice Falun Gong in peace since she came to Philadelphia. She can do the Falun Gong exercises and tell people the facts about the practice at Liberty Square. She said, “The police here protect practitioners. Many Chinese people come to visit the Liberty Bell every day.

“Eighty Million Chinese people were persecuted to death by the CCP, which even harvests organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. Heaven will eliminate this evil. Can we let the Chinese people be destroyed along with the CCP? So I come here six or seven days a week, as long as I have time. I tell myself that I must try my best to help Chinese people understand the truth and choose a good future for themselves.”

Ms. Zhang said that she has met all kinds of Chinese people in front of the Liberty Bell over the years. More and more know the real situation and have withdrawn from the CCP. She feels relieved. Though she was cursed sometimes and some people misunderstood her, she has never wavered in her determination to clarify the truth at the Liberty Bell. She says, “More and more Chinese people now understand just how evil the CCP is. Many people quit the CCP in front of the Liberty Bell. But many young people with good educations are still poisoned by the atheism and lies the CCP advocates.”

One day four Chinese people came to the Liberty Bell and said to Ms Zhang, “The CCP is really bad. They are so corrupt. It is so good that you are here. See the beautiful blue sky and white clouds. We don't believe in anything or anyone in China. The food we eat and the air we breathe there are poisonous. But we have to breathe. What good does our money do us? We want to live here but we can't.”

Though they knew that the CCP is bad, when Ms. Zhang asked them to withdraw from it and choose a good future for themselves, they said that they didn't believe in such superstitious things and would not get involved in politics.

Ms. Zhang told them calmly, “No, this is not superstitious or political. You are well educated and should know that scientific studies have shown that human thoughts are material and that matter and mind are one thing. When you joined the CCP, raising your fist and swearing that you would fight for and devote your life to the CCP, didn't the material of that thought come into existence?

“Since the CCP came to power, it has destroyed traditional Chinese culture, advocated atheism, persecuted 80 million Chinese people to death, severely persecuted Falun Gong practitioners, and harvested organs from living Falun Gong practitioners for profit. It has committed unpardonable sins. It is a Heavenly principle that good will be rewarded and evil will be punished. When the CCP is punished and eliminated, won't you be implicated and buried with it? You swore you would devote your life to it. You have sold your soul to it but you haven't realized it. Haven't you done a foolish thing?

“China was a divine land. We are Chinese people, not descendants of Marx and Lenin. Gods and Buddhas are compassionate and offer an opportunity at this critical moment. Please choose to quit the CCP and keep yourselves safe. As long as you quit the CCP sincerely, you will be saved.”

One of them said, “I agree with you. What you said was reasonable.” Another one said, “I study human science. Matter and mind are one thing. That is scientific.” All four of them withdrew from the CCP.

On another occasion, one young man said to Ms. Zhang after he listened to her: “Eighty percent of Nobel Prize-winning scientists have a religious belief and believe in Gods and Buddhas. Please help me withdraw from the CCP.”

Ms. Zhang said that some people who came to the Liberty Bell and withdrew from the CCP asked when the CCP would be eliminated and if they would be able to witness it. Some of them thanked her.

At the new year, she wished Chinese people would no longer be deceived by the CCP, that they would choose to understand the truth and withdraw from it. She said that this was a rare opportunity and that people should jump at it and choose a good future for themselves.