United States: Practitioners Hold Candle Light Vigil to Call for Release of Charles Lee on the Anniversary of His Imprisonment

January 22 is the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar year and is the birthday of Charles Lee who has been illegally imprisoned in Nanjing Jail for one whole year. Practitioners and Charles's fiancé gathered in front of Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to hold a candle light vigil to demand Jiang's regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and immediately release US citizen Charles Lee.

Ms. Foo Yeongching, Charles's fiancé, participates in a candle light vigil in front of Chinese Consulate

Ms. Foo said, "Today is Chinese New Year, Charles's birthday, and also the anniversary of his illegal imprisonment in China. I cannot see him though New Year's Day is a day for family reunions. Jiang's regime even deprives my right to talk to Charles over the phone."

She said, "A few days ago, I called the US Consulate in Shanghai and was told that Charles Lee was still forced to receive brainwashing. US Consulate official visited Charles on January 15 and found that the jail not only tried to brainwash him, forced him to attend brainwash sessions and forced him to make shoes in a factory of the jail."

She said, "Brainwashing actually forces one to give up his conscience and belief. For a Falun Gong practitioner, being brainwashed means giving up belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance and giving up behaving as a good person. It is horrible to transform a good person to a bad man. Charles Lee is a US citizen and suffers such severe persecution. You can image how brutal the persecution is for Falun Gong practitioners of Chinese Citizens in China. Therefore, I come here today to appeal all kind-hearted people to speak out righteous voice, and demand Jiang's regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and immediately release Charles Lee."

Ms. Shen Shumin, a Falun Gong practitioner who was persecuted in China and rescued to US later, said, "I come to the US to be with my son. I can practice Falun Gong freely. I am so happy. But I cannot care only about me when I think of fellow practitioners in China, who are being either imprisoned in labour camps or mental hospitals, or forced to stay away from home for persisting in belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. So I come here today with my husband and son to appeal and demand Jiang's regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and immediately release Charles Lee."

Mr. Jeffrey Shirtleft, Amnesty International County of San Mateo, California called us specially after learning our activity, "I always stand with you and completely support you. I believe that we work together to have more power and that we will definitely stop the evil persecution. Charles Li will soon be released."

We and Charles Li's family and friends hope more people with conscience and justice to help stop Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong practitioner and rescue Charles Li back to US as early as possible.