United States: Practitioners Clarify the Truth at International Human Rights Day Rally

On December 6, 2003, practitioners were invited to participate in an International Human Rights Day activity held by the Ethnic Group Religious Freedom Alliance in front of San Jose City Hall. The practitioners presented the facts about Falun Gong to attendees and demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises on stage. San Jose City Councilman Chuck Reed, William Baldwin from Amnesty International, the Vietnam-US Public Affairs Association and other groups attended the rally.

Councilman Chuck Reed	Mr. Baldwin from Amnesty International
Signature collection	Signature collection

Mr. Vinh, who was in charge of the activity, once attended Falun Gong instruction sessions. He knew the goodness of Falun Dafa and the Jiang regime's brutal persecution. He expressed that the facts of the persecution should be known by more people, and that's why he invited the Falun Gong practitioners.

A western practitioner presented the persecution of Falun Gong in China, the Jiang regime's deprivation of the Chinese people's freedom of belief, and the fact that tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to arrest, beatings, and some of them have been even tortured to death because of their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The Jiang regime not only physically tortures Dafa practitioners, but also destroys people's beliefs. The most important thing is that today, we work together against the persecution of the freedom of belief.

San Jose City Councilman Chuck Reed said, "We can freely practice our belief here. It's sad that people are deprived of the freedom of belief. Today's activity proved that people of different backgrounds and races can live together peacefully."

Regarding the Jiang regime's persecution of American citizen Charles Li, Mr. Reed said, "I have contacted the American government and US Ambassador in China. We have examples of successful rescues. I hope that the Chinese government will release Charles Li. The American government and President Bush should raise the issue of Charles Li during their dialogue with China and let the Chinese government understand that we would not forget Charles Li."

Mr. William Baldwin from Amnesty International said that Amnesty International supports the freedom of belief. Concerning the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, Mr. Baldwin said, "We have written to Chinese leaders and had contact with US congressmen and American companies that do businesses with China, informing them of the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong. As a peaceful spiritual belief, Falun Gong practitioners have the right to practice their belief. We urge the Chinese government to stop persecuting Falun Gong."

Many people attending the rally expressed their appreciation for the Falun Gong practitioners' participation. People signed their names to support the rescue of Charles Li. Some people expressed that they had wanted to learn about Falun Gong before, and now they finally found us. Some people asked for information and materials, while others extended their warm wishes.