United States: Falun Gong Becomes a Highlight of New York City

In the past 2 months, practitioners in yellow clothing have been seen everywhere in Manhattan, on the streets and at tourist sites, parks and other busy areas. They either demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises or display posters about Falun Gong exposing the brutality of the ongoing persecution in China. Falun Gong has become a common sight in New York City.

By clarifying the truth about Falun Gong and the persecution face to face, practitioners have helped many people learn about the ongoing brutal persecution. When seeing those graphic photos revealing the horrible facts and the real-life models reenacting torture methods used in China, many people were moved to tears. They were shocked and outraged, and couldn't believe that such a tragedy is taking place in China during the 21st century. They took the practitioners' literature and read them carefully, and came to practitioners in succession to learn more and express their kind-hearted support. The force of justice and compassion is forming and growing.

People who have learned the truth often come to practitioners and tell them: "You have done very well, how can I help you?" One girl came and said that she heard about the persecution of Falun Gong yesterday at 46th street, and she told all her friends about it at her birthday party. An older Irish lady said: "I have written to my representative, and I will write again."

A tall black man cried with hands covering his face when he saw photos of Gao Rongrong, who was disfigured by guards of a Chinese labour camp. He said that he couldn't believe the Chinese authorities could use such brutal force against innocent civilians. Seeing Chinese people passing by, he called to them loudly: "You should also learn about what is happening in your country." He also asked those Chinese people to take the practitioners' materials.

Several men from the Middle East said: "We were also persecuted before and we understand you. We pray for those who are being persecuted." Some kind-hearted people left their business cards or contact information and said: "If you need help, please let me know."

Pointing to the photos on the posters, a group of girls asked: "Where do you get these photos?" After they learned that the photos were sent out from Mainland China by practitioners at the risk of their lives, the girls were very touched and accepted materials presented by practitioners.

Some people also asked, "Why do practitioners come here and tell people about all of this?" Practitioners told them that China blocks the facts about Falun Gong and control the media to spread lies to defame Falun Gong, so the people around the world don't know the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Therefore, practitioners came to New York City to raise awareness of this at their own expense.

After seeing our posters, a kind-hearted lady asked us if we needed money and offered to donate some. We told her that we don't accept donations, and she can help us by telling others about the persecution.

One lady came in a hurry. Holding a practitioner's hands, she said that she had read through the "Falun Gong Reader" and yet she still didn't understand why Jiang's regime persecuted Falun Gong. She kept asking us, "Why? Why?"

After talking to practitioners and understanding the truth, a well-known TV producer said that he could help us to shoot a documentary about Falun Gong.

In New York City, people who have learned the truth have been acting as a live media. On many occasions, in front of the practitioners' posters, you can hear conversations like this between onlookers: "'What is going on here?' 'Let me tell you, this is happening in China, this is the persecution of Falun Gong.' 'It is just a practice, and they persecute it so severely. It is really unbelievable.'"

With the practitioners' tireless efforts in the past two months, more and more people in Manhattan have learned the truth about Falun Gong, and people are further spreading the truth by word of mouth. Many passersby greeted practitioners and raised their thumbs to signal their support. Attracted by Falun Gong's serene and peaceful music and the graceful exercises, many wanted to learn the Falun Gong exercises right away.

The impact of Manhattan's truth-clarifying project is growing, just like what was said by a Miami human rights activist: "My organisation and I sincerely respect your efforts for human rights. Let's gather together everyone's power to end this brutal persecution as soon as possible."