United States: Rutgers University Staff and Students Sign Petitions Supporting the Rescue of Charles Li

A petition drive sponsored by Friends of Falun Gong and Amnesty International, Rutgers University Branch was held in Rutgers University, the largest university in New Jersey.

The signature collection was held on the small square across from the student centre at New Brunswick campus. It was a nice day with little wind. Falun Gong practitioners and organisers of the event set up banners and posters calling for the rescue of Charles Li. They handed out flyers and explained the brutal persecution of Charles Li and other Falun Gong practitioners in China. Those who listened signed on signature collection book to support and enquired further about Charles's plight. The supporters often needed to stand in line to sign. At 9 pm, more than 700 people had signed and several thousands people accepted flyers.

After dark, the organisers played the English video "Rescuing Family" and songs about rescuing Charles Li, which touched many students passing by. The students signed and people came to support in an endless stream. The event scheduled to end at 9 pm did not wind up until 10 pm.

It was a pleasure to notice that many Asian students, especially those from China, signed to support the rescue of Charles Li.

An American student said after signing, "I believe it is wrong to detain Charles Li. Everyone should have his basic rights. But he is deprived."

A student from Romania said, "I read the story about Charles Li a few days ago. I was born in Romania and grew up in that system. I know what really happened there is similar to China's situation. These occurrences should have never happened."

Falun Gong practitioner Chen Gang, who was illegally imprisoned in China and came to the US a few months ago, gave a speech in the ceremony during the signature collection, as did the representative from Friends of Falun Gong. They called on all kind-hearted people and all righteous forces to work together to rescue Charles Li and end the persecution.

It was the second time Friends of Falun Gong and Amnesty International held such an activity on campus to expose the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong. More young students expressed their voice of opposing the persecution and safeguarding human rights and beliefs after learning the facts about Falun Gong. Falun Gong practitioners participating in this activity realised that young students have strong righteous motives and few notions and that there is significant meaning to holding truth-clarification activities in universities to expose the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong and call on young students to oppose it.