New York: Americans Condemn the Persecution of Falun Gong in China

According a report from the Epoch Times newspaper on the 25th of August, 2004, dozens of Falun Gong practitioners held anti-torture exhibitions on the 21st and 22nd of August on 5th Avenue near Central Park in New York City. The exhibitions attracted many passersby. How do Americans view this continuous persecution of Falun Gong in China?

Ms. Ma, 68, demonstrates one torture method, which confines practitioner in a small cage.	A young female practitioner demonstrates another torture method: Chinese police and guards jab bamboo sticks under a practitioner's fingernails.

The anti-torture exhibitions demonstrate torture methods such as the Tiger Bench, Bamboo Sticks and confinement in a small cage, and vividly re-enact the on-going persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Ms. Ma demonstrated a torture method where she was confined in a small cage. The suffering she demonstrated was so touching that many people took the initiative to ask for more materials about Falun Gong. Ms. Ma came to the U.S. four years ago to visit her daughter. She found that her daughter, who used to be very weak, became very healthy by practising Falun Gong. Moreover, her daughter's temper became greatly improved. Contrary to the propaganda in China, all Falun Gong practitioners she has met are very nice. Soon after her arrival, therefore, she also started to practice Falun Gong and her high blood pressure and heart disease then disappeared.

Many Americans take the initiative to sign practitioners' petition in support of Falun Gong	Demonstrating Falun Gong exercises, the girl in the middle is only 10 years old	Passersby learn more about Falun Gong

"I felt horrible [upon seeing the exhibition]. It is very sad that the whole world is casting a blind eye on the persecution. The only reason is money, trade with China," A middle-aged gentleman who had learnt about the persecution several years ago said, "The U.S. government should do something to pressure the Chinese government. If the international community used economic sanction, China would surely stop the persecution."

Next to the exhibition, several practitioners, including a 10-year-old and her mother, were demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises.

"So Awful! Terrible!" James Wagner said. Pointing to practitioners who were demonstrating the exercises, he said: "Persecuting such a peaceful and beneficial practice! The Chinese government [Jiang's regime] just fears anything, and feels everything is a threat to its interests."

It was the first time Justin Jacobs heard about the persecution. He said: "So awful! People just want to do a practice which they feel is good and righteous, and they didn't do anything wrong. There is no reason to persecute them and the persecution is totally wrong."

"Shocked! I feel regret for the persecution," another lady said, "Everyone should be able to practice their beliefs. I can't understand why the [Jiang group persecutes Falun Gong]?"

A practitioner introduced Falun Gong and the persecution to passersby: "Since its first introduction to public in China in 1992, Falun Gong spread quickly across the whole nation and around the world. In just seven years, more than 100 million Chinese practised Falun Gong. This number is more than the number of Party members. This incited then Chinese president Jiang Zemin's jealousy. Jiang started to persecute Falun Gong five years ago. More than 100 million good citizens have been persecuted; more than 1000 have been persecuted to death."

Many westerners know that communist governments are totalitarian regimes. A lady said that several days ago she read from a news report that three Christians had been sentenced to prison terms by Chinese authorities.

James Foote just started to practice Falun Gong several months ago. He was distributing Falun Gong leaflets to passersby. His home is very close to Central Park and he had just practised Falun Gong in the park with other practitioners in the morning. He said: "I believe in Falun Gong. It helps me a lot both physically and spiritually. I want to help people know about the persecution in China because we live on the same Earth and we are all connected."

New Yorker Stan Benet signed the practitioners' petition and said: "Such a brutal persecution doesn't make sense in todays modern age. I showed my support with my signature."