Washington DC: Falun Gong Practitioners from Around the World Gather to Hold a Series of Activities and Call for an End to Persecution and Terror

Clearwisdom Correspondent Lin Xinyuan reports from Washington: Since July 20, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners from around the world have been gathering in Washington DC to hold a series of activities including a public rally, parade and candlelight vigil to call for an end to the Jiang group's state terrorism and the persecution and killing of Falun Gong practitioners.

Bicycle Team comes from Canada to Save the Children Been Persecuted in China

In order to expose the Jiang group's persecution of children who practice Falun Gong, a group of Canadian teenagers rode bicycles from Toronto to Washington DC. The route was 1200 km, and took 23 days. They arrived in Washington on July 22, and invited people and teenagers in Washington DC to join "Save China's Persecuted Kids Bicycles Parade" on July 22. Adults and teenagers in Washington DC joined the bicycle team in Chevy Chase Circle Park between Maryland and DC, and held a 13-km "Save China's Persecuted Kids Bicycles Parade," kicking off the series of July 20th activities in Washington DC.

On the morning of July 22, a parade of about 130 bicycles, protected and led by police, rode toward the Chinese Embassy to hold a press conference and deliver an appeal letter that requests the Chinese Embassy to transfer the concerns of Falun Gong practitioners from over 60 countries over the persecution of Falun Gong.

After that, the bicycle team set off from the Chinese Consulate to Capitol Hill to participate in a rally. They were well received by the audience.

Seventeen-year-old Ye Jin, who took part in the bike tour, said, "There are many children in China who share the same belief with us, but since the persecution of Falun Gong began, some children have become orphans, and some have been forced to drop out of school. Such unfairness must be stopped. We hope to use our voices to awaken people's conscience, and hope that more people can join us to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China."

Kevin Koo said, "The bicycle team has 17 members; their ages are ranged from 13 to 17. We have obtained support and encouragement from people on the way. We hope the persecution will end soon, and also hope that children in China can freely practice the exercises like us."

Thousands of People Gather on Capitol Hill to Call for an End to the Persecution and Stop Terror

At noon on July 22, Falun Gong practitioners from around the world and other supporters held a rally with the theme of "Uncompromising Courage" on Capitol Hill. They called for stopping the Jiang group's state terrorism and called for an end to the persecution and killing of Falun Gong practitioners.

During the rally, US congress members as well as dignitaries from different circles and representatives of "Save the Kids in China" bicycle team made speeches. There were also singing and dancing performances. Los Angeles Falun Gong practitioners' dance, "Going to Tiananmen," expressed the scene of Falun Gong practitioners traveling to Tiananmen Square one after another to explain the truth about Falun Gong, and displayed Falun Gong practitioners' persistence in their belief and their uncompromising spirit while being persecuted.

Two Congressmen and representatives from eight non-governmental organizations attended the rally and made speeches.

Mr. Mark Palmer, vice chairman of "Freedom House" and representative of Friends of Falun Gong, Dr. Keith Roderick, Director of International Christian Association, Ms. Faith J.H. McDonnell, Director of Religious and Democratic Association, Congresswoman of Florida Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Representative of Pennsylvania Faith J.H. McDonnell, Executive President of "Freedom House," Ms. Jennifer L. Windsor, and the President of Jubilee Campaign USA, Ms. Ann Buwalda, came to attend the rally and made speeches to express their support.

Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a congresswoman from Florida said in her speech, "Our peaceful journey is arduous, but you have clearly displayed your uncompromising persistence and your inner strength that inner strength obtained from your belief.... Today, we get together again to continue resisting persecution and killing against Falun Gong practitioners world-wide... I guarantee to continue my effort for Falun Gong until the persecution stops...."

Executive President Dan Fefferman of the International Religious Freedom Association sent a letter to express his support. He said, "China is the largest country concerning its population. But if it really wants to become a great nation, China must follow basic human rights. If China continues suppressing Falun Gong or other organizations that practice their beliefs, China's development will be seriously hindered."

Artist Mr. Mark Jenkins exhibited the torture props he made. He said that he saw Falun Gong practitioners' practice the exercises outside the Chinese Consulate three years ago, and he was deeply moved. Several days ago, he saw Falun Gong practitioners' anti-torture exhibit, and he had an idea to make props. He said the persecution is really inconceivable.

Parade Calls for an End to the Persecution and Terror

After the rally, Falun Gong practitioners set off from the west lawn of Capitol Hill, and paraded to the front of the White House. Almost every practitioner held a banner or display board, with the words, "Falun Dafa is Good," "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance," "Stop the Persecution," "Bring Jiang to Justice" and "Stop Jiang's Group's Extending State Terrorism," and other words.

A group of young women in white holding handmade lotuses walked at the front of the parade. There were also two large wreathes, one was imprinted with one word, "Mourn," the other contained photos of some practitioners who have died from the persecution. There was also a very large monument engraved with names of practitioners who have died.

In the middle of the procession was a vehicle on which torture methods that Falun Gong practitioners in China suffer were reenacted.

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Sun said, "I came here just to call upon governments, groups and kind people to work together with us to stop the suppression and persecution of Falun Gong in China, and stop the Jiang group from extending state terrorism and various kinds of attacks and harassment of Falun Gong practitioners overseas."

Live Torture-Exhibit Exposes Jiang's Evildoings

Beside the rally site, practitioners held a live torture exhibit, which exposed atrocities taking place in Chinese mental hospitals, being hung up with handcuffs, tiger bench, hammering bamboo sticks into fingers, dead person's bed, being hung upside down, being tied up and being locked in a small metal cage.

According to Falun Gong practitioners' introduction, the anti-torture exhibit has been displayed in several places in Washington DC for several days.

Over the past five years, the Jiang group has used various physical and mental torture methods on practitioners. The torture methods used in this unprecedented persecution have been well over 100.

Five-years of Bloody Persecution, Peaceful and Long-suffering Journey of Kind People

On July 20 five years ago, a nation-wide brutal suppression of Falun Gong practitioners began under Jiang's orders. According to incomplete statistics, at least three hundred thousand practitioners across China were illegally detained and beaten. Over the past five years, at least 1,000 practitioners have died as a result of the persecution. The death cases cover over 30 provinces, autonomous regions and cities.

At least 6,000 practitioners have been illegally sentenced to prison, more than one hundred thousand practitioners have been sent to forced labor camps, thousands of practitioners have been sent to mental hospitals to be injected with drugs that damage their central-nervous system. A large number of practitioners have been abducted and sent to brainwashing classes in different places, more have been beaten up, physically tortured and economically extorted.

Facing violence and torture, lies and slander, Falun Gong practitioners have not retreated, nor have they adopted any extreme measures, but have peacefully and rationally explained the facts of Falun Gong to the people around the world, and called for an end to the persecution. At the same time, they have sought legal channels to uphold justice.

The Righteous will Triumph over Evil, Truth will Prevail and Evil Persons Will be Punished

In China, from ordinary people to high-ranking government officials, more and more people have expressed their disgust over the dictator's irrational and brutal nature. The Jiang group's plot to attempt to extend the persecution of Falun Gong overseas has completely failed.

The chief perpetrator Jiang Zemin has been served with lawsuits in more than ten countries on charges of torture and genocide. Several high-ranking officials including former Beijing Mayor Liu Qi and others were also sentenced on default in North California Federal Court, and the court announced that the charge of "crimes against humanity" were accepted. Government officials, human rights organizations, religious groups and kind people have condemned the Jiang group's persecution of Falun Gong.

Falun Gong practitioners expressed that no matter what lies the Jiang group fabricates in China, people who have learned the truth will not be deceived. The suppression that is based on the malicious lies will collapse of itself with the exposure of the lies. People will condemn Jiang's atrocities, and Jiang and his followers will be held accountable for their persecution of Falun Gong.