United States: Car Tour to Rescue Charles Li Holds Press Conferences in New York

The Car Tour Around the US to Rescue Charles Li arrived in New York on September 7, 2003. The team and local practitioners held a press conference and signature collection in Flushing Chinatown to inform local residents the plight of American citizen and Falun Gong practitioner Charles Li being imprisoned unlawfully and tortured in China. On the second day, they held press conferences in front of Brooklyn Court and Manhattan City Hall.

The press conference in front of Brooklyn Court started at 9:00 a.m., the peak time for people going to work. Many people passed by. The practitioners prepared half an hour in advance, at the same time distributed flyers and collected signatures. Using a microphone, they told passers-by why they came here and what Falun Gong is. The scene was peaceful and passers-by accepted flyers and signed their names on the signature book. Some stopped to view the posters. An older lady told us that she left her phone number on the signature book and that we could call her if we needed her help. She said she would be pleased to help us. Another lady said that she would sign as many times as we requested. Many people of goodwill wished us good luck. Within less than an hour, more than 50 passers-by signed. Reporters from the New York Daily and Brooklyn Eagle covered the event. Brooklyn Bay News and Horizon made interview appointments with practitioners.

Then we went to New York City Hall for another press conference at 11:00 a.m. Before our arrival, reporters were waiting there, which shows that the Car Tour to Rescue Charles Li touched people's hearts. At noon, crowds passed by and the practitioners distributed literature about the persecution of Falun Gong and Charles Li, collected signatures, practised the exercises, and received interviews. Everything was in order. Some practitioners who have relatives persecuted in China came to receive interviews by reporters. Passers-by viewed the posters, took literature and signed the signature book. NBC TV station, Voice of America, New York Daily dispatched reporters to cover the event. A student reporter from Brooklyn University came to cover the event too.

During the press conference, the rescue team members gave speeches explaining why they initiated the rescue activity. A senior practitioner narrated the sufferings from the brutal persecution of his relatives and friends in China. Having experienced more than three-years of persecution, Falun Gong practitioner Chen Gang, recently rescued from China and living in South Jersey now, talked about his own suffering experience to expose the inhumane persecution occurring in China and appeal to the international community to rescue Dr. Li.

In the afternoon, the rescue team and local practitioners visited several media outlets and clarified the facts to major media in New York.