United States: Board of Supervisors in San Francisco Passes Resolution Condemning CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong

On the afternoon of January 31st, 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution that "condemns the persecution of Falun Gong." The resolution states that Falun Gong practitioners should be free from the persecution within the City and County of San Francisco, and appropriate City agencies including the police department and human rights commission should protect Falun Gong practitioners' rights and security.

Falun Gong urges a stop to the persecution	Spokesperson for Falun Gong Ms. Zhang Xuerong and lawyer introduce the beauty of Falun Gong to the media

Many reporters come to interview	Press conference site

Falun Gong practitioners protest CCP extending the persecution to San Francisco	Falun Gong practitioners hold display boards to expose the persecution facts

Supervisor Chris Daly proposed the resolution that "condemns the persecution of Falun Gong," which was submitted to the Board of Supervisors after it was passed on a 2 to1 vote last Monday at the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee. This afternoon, all 11 supervisors at the Board of Supervisors voted, and the resolution was passed on a 9 to 2 vote.

Prior to the vote, nearly a hundred Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference in front of the City Hall. Some of them practiced the exercises, some held banners reading "Extend Help to Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong," and called for the Board of Supervisors to support the resolution.

Spokesperson for Falun Gong Ms. Zhang Xuerong, after learning that the resolution was passed, said that she was pleased that the Board of Supervisors passed the resolution condemning the persecution of Falun Gong, making San Francisco join in the protection of Falun Gong human rights. She said, "We should let everyone have the right to practise his or her own belief."

Supervisor Sean Elsbernd expressed at the meeting that the essence of the resolution is regarding individuals' basic human rights. Falun Gong practitioners should be free of persecution. He called on other supervisors to support the resolution.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano expressed that the fact of Falun Gong practitioners being subjected to persecution is very clear. All has been documented. He supported Dali's opinion.

The following is the content of the resolution:

Condemning the Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners

Resolution condemning the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, expressing the position of the City and County of San Francisco to Federal Officials, urging federal officials and the State Department to follow United States Congress Resolution 304.

Whereas, the persecution of Falun Gong violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of religion, the right to assemble, and the right to speak freely, and the city of San Francisco has been a champion in promoting human rights; and

Whereas, in 2004, the United States House of Representatives (with the United States Senate concurring) passed a concurrent resolution, Resolution 304, expressing the sense of Congress regarding oppression by the Government of the People's Republic of China of Falun Gong in the United States and in China; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors that Falun Gong practitioners should be free from persecution within the City and County of San Francisco and that appropriate City agencies, including the Police Department and Human Rights Commission should protect the rights and safety of Falun Gong practitioners; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City and County of San Francisco urge federal officials to continue their stance in support of Falun Gong as articulated in the United States Congress Resolution 304.