Practitioners in San Francisco Collect Signatures to Rescue Charles Li

On Saturday February 22, 2003, we went to San Francisco to participate in a signature collection activity to rescue American citizen Charles Li. We divided into subgroups, each with four to five people. Some went to Chinatown, some to Union Square. Some also went to Japanese Town.

This signature drive was different from previous ones. Many people already knew the case of American citizen Charles's arrest and were very concerned about his situation.

An American said, "Through this matter, I start to understand what the so-called 'the national secret' is, Just like back in the year when Hitler persecuted the Jews. Whoever exposed these brutal matters would certainly be accused of revealing 'state secrets'. If Charles were indeed involved in the TV broadcast, his courage would surely win people's admiration. We must rescue Charles, he did not commit any crime."

The American also said, "If Charles indeed participated in the television broadcast, I actually would like to see the real evidence. However such evidence should not be used as a tool to persecute him, but as testimony for Mr. Charles Li to apply for the Nobel peace prize!"

When we talked to a Chinese lady in English about rescuing Charles Li, she did not pay much attention initially. When she walked away quite far and started to read the flyer she realised that it was for rescuing Li Xiangchun. At that time, she had already crossed the traffic light, and her husband and daughter had already gotten into their vehicle. Her husband and daughter asked her to forget it, but this woman said, "For Rescuing Charles Li, I must sign my name!"

She turned around, passed through the traffic light, signed her name and only then did she feel satisfied. We said, "Thank you." She replied, "You do not need to thank me. We must rescue him."

In a short period of time, we had collected over 100 signatures.