United States: Revealing the Persecution of Falun Gong to Diplomats in front of Chinese Consulate in Houston, Texas

On the evening of September 30th, 2004, the Chinese Consulate in Houston held another celebration event and invited foreign diplomats and U.S. local government officials. Falun Gong practitioners in Houston learned about this event and went to the consulate after work to inform the guests about the persecution taking place against Falun Gong.

Holding banners and posters in front of the Chinese Consulate	Talking about the persecution and Falun Gong to guests	Staff in the Chinese Consulate tries to drive away practitioners by turning on the sprinklers

A long row of banners and posters were set up in front of the consulate, including large banners in both Chinese and English that were worded "SOS! Urgent Rescue Falun Gong Practitioners Being Persecuted in China," "Please Help Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong," "1,060 Falun Gong Practitioners Have Been Tortured to Death," and posters showing practitioners being tortured and Falun Gong spreading worldwide. Several police officers stood nearby. Practitioners explained the fact to the police officers and the police said that they understood and supported them.

After the arrival of the practitioners, staff in the Chinese consulate turned on sprinklers that were usually turned on at night and tried to drive away the practitioners. The practitioners shoes and trousers were soaked through but they continued to stand. The staff of the consulate had no other choice but to give up.

The invited guests came one after another. When they passed by, the practitioners greeted them with smiles. Some of them stopped to look at the posters and listened to practitioners' explanations attentively.

After the party, the guests began to leave. The practitioners greeted them again and distributed more materials. Most of the guests accepted and appreciated their efforts. Some talked to the practitioners and said, "I support you. Keep going!" "Good job. You are doing the right thing!" "I'll tell my friends what I have seen and heard here." One guest greeted them with his hands together in front of his chest after accepting some materials. Some gave them thumbs up.

The majority of the guests accepted materials from practitioners even in the presence of Chinese Consulate officials. When a practitioner explained the facts to a guest, the guest listened carefully. A consulate official stood beside them and looked like he wanted to try and stop it but did not dare. When another consulate official helped a woman enter a car, a practitioner greeted her politely, "Good evening, ma'am. Please help stop the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China." The practitioner handed over some materials. The lady accepted it with both hands and said with a smile, "Thank you." A Texas government official greeted a practitioner he knew in the presence of a consulate official and accepted literature that was handed over.

A practitioner distributing the literature said, "A slight number of people did not accept our materials. I almost gave up and only nodded politely to them to wish them 'good night'. Soon I thought that I would not let the chance go. I said to him from my heart, 'You came learn the facts and it is important to you. Please cherish the chance.' Suddenly the guest turned back to ask for some materials whilst smiling. I was moved and wanted to do better to have more people understand the facts..."

Another practitioner said, "I experienced the power of righteous thoughts and one body. When everyone cooperates well, the guests were moved by our righteous energy field and would like to learn the facts."