Boston Falun Dafa Practitioners Explain the Facts about Falun Gong at the Chinese Public Institute

1) Due to Persistence in Clarifying the Facts of the Persecution of Falun Gong in the Chinese Communities, People's Attitudes Have Changed

The Chinese Public Institute, an overseas Chinese community group, has a long history in Boston's Chinatown. Before Jiang's Regime persecuted Falun Gong, the people who were taking responsibility for the Chinese Public Institute not only supported Falun Gong practitioners, but also freely offered locations for Falun Gong practitioners to hold exercise practice or study groups. After the persecution of Falun Gong began, the different people in charge of the Chinese Public Institute began to defame Falun Gong practitioners by spreading rumours and propaganda from the Chinese government under pressure from the Chinese Consulate.

Every year, the Chinese Public Institute holds celebration activities for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival in Boston's Chinatown. Boston practitioners always rented a booth from them where they displayed Falun Dafa books and materials while introducing Falun Gong to the communities. Since the Jiang regime outlawed Falun Gong, Boston practitioners started to explain the facts of the persecution about Falun Gong to people in the festival. The practitioners handed out materials and Video-CDs about the persecution of Falun Gong. They also showed videos showing the Falun Gong exercises and clarifying the truth at the location. The colourful balloons floated in the air at the booth, and the peaceful music resounded all around as if coming from the sky. The friendly faces of the practitioners explaining the facts about Falun Gong to people, together with all those things, created an atmosphere of freshness and purity at the festival activities.

In 2001, when Boston practitioners applied for a booth from the Chinese Public Institute, several people who were in charge of the organisation first prohibited the practitioners from performing Falun Gong exercises in front of the booth. Then, on the festival day, the practitioners were also told they could not exhibit any materials that explained the facts of the persecution of Falun Gong at the location in Pailou Park for which they already had a permit. The practitioners protested firmly in accordance with the regulations, so the officials had no choice but to allow the practitioners to display their materials. In 2002, the same people got the park permit early to prevent the practitioners from using Pailou Park. They said that it was the regulations of the Chinese Public Institute and they treated every group the same. However, the real reason was that the Consul General of China in New York had taken part in the festival activities for the previous two years. The Consul General not only spread rumours about Falun Gong but also pressured overseas Chinese Groups to exclude Falun Gong and follow the consulate's position against Falun Gong. Therefore, some persons from the Chinese Public Institute made wrong choices.

Facing the extension of the persecution of Falun Gong from China, practitioners started to clarify the truth of Falun Gong to overseas Chinese communities. They compassionately and continuously clarified the truth to the people of the Chinese Public Institute so that they could understand the persecution's true purpose. Practitioners also reported to the congressmen who lived in their area that Jiang's persecution of Falun Gong had been extended to the free land of United States. The practitioners also clarified the truth to the police. Practitioners showed the police that whenever they were involved in an activity, they were always peaceful and rational and actively cooperated with the police. The practitioners also visited the Parks Management offices in Boston. After learning the facts, lawyers from the General Office of the State Government actively helped the practitioners and definitely indicated that what the when the Chinese Public Institute prohibited Falun Gong practitioners from performing Falun Gong exercises in front their booth it was illegal. It violated the United States' constitutional guarantees of "freedom of religion" and "freedom of speech."

Since then things have changed. The practitioners not only practised Falun Gong exercises in front their booth, but also freely gave out the flyers to the people who passed by during the celebration activities of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival of 2003 without interference. A practitioner, who is a painter, painted people's portraits for free. There were many exhibit boards inside and outside Pailou Park. Some of the boards showed the beauty of Falun Gong and others exposed the crimes of humanity committed against Falun Gong. The western practitioners practised Falun Gong with the delicate, moving music while an oversized TV screen broadcast video documentaries about the practice. All these activities became a grand scene in Chinatown. Many overseas Chinese were amazed and excited and stopped to watch and learn the facts about Falun Gong.

2) Joining the Spring Festival Dinner Party: Many Leaders from Different Overseas Chinese Groups Learn the True Facts about Falun Dafa

During the Spring Festival of 2004, the Chinese Public Institute held a dinner party. The newly elected leaders from different Chinese organisations met the Chinese communities. New England area Falun Dafa contact persons, Minghui School and Falun Gong practitioners who worked in Chinatown took part in the activity.

Each group had its own dinner table, and people who sat at the table had to be leaders of the group. Falun Gong practitioners also got a table. They put the sign of "Falun Gong" in the centre of the table. The party started and a lot food was brought to the tables. As the practitioners looked around, they realised that there were many leaders in the restaurant that they didn't know. How could they let them learn the truth of Falun Dafa? The practitioners decided to mingle with the leaders of various groups by offering New Year's greetings.

The practitioners started at the first dinner table occupied by the dinner hosts. They were the new leaders of the Chinese Public Institute. Liu Zhigong, an honorary guest, who is the head of the Taiwan Economic and Culture Office in Boston sat with the hosts. Mr. Liu is a respected person in the Chinese communities in Boston. As soon as Mr. Liu saw Falun Gong Practitioners, he stood up and shook hands with them. He also offered to introduce the practitioners to the leaders of each group. He first introduced the practitioners to the Chairman of the Chinese Public Institute. In very smooth Cantonese he said, "They are all my friends and are very good people. They are Falun Gong practitioners." By doing so, the Chairman of the Chinese Public Institute enthusiastically talked with the practitioners.

Later Mr. Liu and four practitioners went to each dinner table where he introduced the practitioners to the people saying, "They are my friends, they are also Falun Gong practitioners. Perhaps you heard the rumours from the Chinese Government that Falun Gong practitioners have the fierce looks on their faces. Take a look, they are all fine people, and not like what they said at all. This is Mr. Liang, he is a computer engineer. This is Mr. Jian, he is a doctor of economics. Ms. Wang was an optometrist in China and now she does science research. They all have a high education and are very successful." The leaders of various groups complimented the practitioners. The practitioners also wished them good luck and a happy New Year. Just like that, the practitioners went to all the dinner tables and met all the Chinese community groups.

Later, a practitioner talked about the event: "At that time I felt that the cloudy sky suddenly became bright and clear. It didn't matter where we went, people who first kept their distance and had doubts about us, later showed admiration and friendliness. Smiles showed on their faces. By going to all the tables, we were not only exposing the lies from the evil but also showing the great manners of Falun Gong practitioners to overseas Chinese groups." After the dinner party was over, Mr. Liu said to the practitioners: "From now on, come frequently to the communities. The more you talk about Falun Gong to people, the more people will learn it, and more people will support you".

That's right! People who have righteous thoughts in the society are already coming forward to support and help Falun Gong practitioners while the places for the evil people to continue their terrible actions have already become less and less.