United States: Practitioners Expose the Persecution of Falun Dafa during the Presidential Debate at Washington University

The second presidential debate of 2004 was held at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri on the evening of October 8th, 2004. Besides the heated debate between presidential candidates, their supporters and people holding different political views also enthusiastically expressed their opinions in a variety of ways outside the debate hall.

To bring the serious human rights violations in China to the attention of more people and media, Falun Gong practitioners in St. Louis held an Anti-Torture Exhibit near Washington University, displayed Falun Gong banners and distributed truth-clarification materials. Their activities exposed some of the cruel torture methods used in the persecution of Falun Gong by Jiang's faction in China.

Falun Gong practitioners are interviewed by the media

Anti-Torture Exhibition

A young Falun Gong practitioner distributes leaflets	Explaining the facts	Exposing the truth

Falun Gong practitioners displayed their truth-clarification banners in the rain at major intersections in the morning. Many drivers honked their horns to indicate their support. Some presidential supporters originally planned to stand in front of the banners, but they were shocked on seeing photos of persecution victims and left the Falun Gong banners a clear view.

The presidential candidates' cars passed Falun Gong banners at noon and 1pm. Falun Gong practitioners held their banners high. One said "Falun Gong Practitioners Are Being Tortured to Death in China." Under the words were pictures of torture victims. Another banner said "Please Help Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong in China."

The rain stopped in the afternoon. Falun Gong practitioners held an Anti-Torture Exhibit at a designated free speech area. People were shocked by the facts of the brutal persecution in China. They all voiced support for the 304th resolution passed by the House a few days ago, requesting China to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China and in the United States. They were angry about the extension of the persecution to the United States by Jiang's followers. Some other groups of Chinese Americans also held activities in the same place. They talked to Falun Gong practitioners and expressed their sincere wish that the persecution will stop soon.

A dozen TV stations, radio stations and newspaper reporters interviewed Falun Gong practitioners. A TV reporter told Falun Gong practitioners that he learned about Falun Gong when he was in New York. A reporter asked Falun Gong practitioners what actions they hoped the presidential candidates would take, and practitioners said they hoped the candidates would communicate with the Chinese government and take every possible opportunity to call for the end of the persecution and the release of Falun Gong practitioners, including American citizen Charles Li.