Northern California: Friends of Falun Gong Holds A New Year's Party

On January 26 2003, the non-profit organisation Friends of Falun Gong in Northern California held the 2003 Dinner Party to welcome the coming of the New Year in the City of Palo Alto. Over 600 guests from different circles of society attended and watched excellent performances. All attendees were immersed in a happy and festive atmosphere, welcoming the Chinese Spring Festival.

Chorus: I am a Cultivator	Chorus: Coming for You
Tianjin "Rapid Talk"

The President of Friends of Falun Gong, San Francisco State University economics professor Mr. Li Chengxin, San Francisco City Assemblyman Kevis Deli and director of Taipei's Culture and Economy office in San Francisco, Mr. Lee Shiming, made speeches at the party. Though they are not Falun Gong practitioners, they share the same hope that China will end its irrational persecution of Falun Gong and allow imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners to be reunited with their families.

The Guangming Chorus, formed by Falun Gong practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area, sang songs including, "I'm a Cultivator", displaying to the audience Dafa practitioners' demeanour. A dozen Western Falun Gong practitioners sang "Coming for You" in Chinese to convey their good wishes to the "precious Chinese people". Many guests in the audience were moved and gave them warm applause. "Tianjin Rapid Talk", performed by five practitioners, expressed their joy on the path of cultivation. In the end, the party concluded with the song, "Fa Rectifies the Universe" sung by Dafa practitioner and famous artist Mr. Guan Guimin. A joyous and harmonious atmosphere permeated the entire evening party.

This is the second New Year Greeting party sponsored by Friends of Falun Gong. The main purpose of the party is to express their gratitude to friends in Northern California who have been showing their support and concerns about Falun Gong, and at the same time they wanted to provide an opportunity for local people with different backgrounds and different beliefs and for overseas Chinese who are far away from home to be entertained and enhance their understanding of Falun Gong.

The guests appreciated the ample dinner and extraordinary programs and expressed their thanks to the sponsor for providing the opportunity to let them spend a wonderful evening.

During the evening, local Falun Gong practitioners took opportunities to introduce Falun Dafa and the persecution of Falun Gong to the interested guests. Many attendees expressed their appreciation and sympathy. Several of them wanted to learn the Falun Gong exercises on the spot.