From Tsinghua University to Flushing, New York: A Reunion after Nine Years

In June 1999, a tall Caucasian American came to our little tree exercise site at Tsinghua University. He stated that his Chinese name was Gu Mengsheng, he was from Philadelphia, and he had come to learn Chinese at Tsinghua University in order to read the Chinese version of Zhuan Falun. Even though he was a new practitioner, we were all deeply moved by his firm belief and his diligence.

Even though his Chinese and my English were not great, we, along with dozens of fellow practitioners, exercised, studied the Fa, and exchanged experiences daily. It was a wonderful time that we spent together.

Suddenly, the unprecedented persecution began. On the morning of July 20, 1999, when we went to group exercise as usual, we noticed several police vehicles. That afternoon, we heard about the massive arrests of Falun Gong practitioners all over China. We were going to exercise again the next day but decided not to go to the same place--we wanted to go and appeal for Falun Gong. I did not see Gu Mengsheng after that. When I went to look for him in his dormitory in September, I was told that he had left China.

I have been arrested numerous times since then. The last time, at the end of 2000, I was held for over five years.

After breaking through many obstructions, I was able to come to the US in 2008. For a Falun Gong practitioner, the situation in China and the situation in the US are totally different. America is a free and democratic society: there is freedom of belief, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom to gather. Falun Gong practitioners can freely practice their cultivation, protected by law. They can use all available methods to clarify the truth, expose the persecution, and save all sentient beings.

Since May 17, 2008, a group of thugs and ruffians directly manipulated by the Chinese Embassy and Chinese secret agencies began cursing, assaulting, and even attacking Falun Gong practitioners that volunteer at the Quit the CCP Service Center in Flushing, NY. In the broad daylight, they tore apart a poster board that said, "God Bless China," physically attacked and insulted both elderly and female Falun Gong practitioners, and made obscene gestures toward them. According to the Chinese Communist Party media they were described as "great patriots"and as a "spontaneous patriotic group." Their behavior at the Flushing event declared to the world: "The Chinese Communist Party is the hooligan!"

I was shocked, even though I had just come to the US from China and had been through numerous hardships.

From July 21 to 22, 1999, when the CCP police attempted to attack Falun Gong practitioners, they'd usually have dozens of policemen surround the practitioner first and then attack. They were afraid of being seen by others, even in detention centers, labor camps, and prisons. So the CCP guards usually avoided other inmates before they tortured Falun Gong practitioners, as they were afraid that their criminal acts would be exposed and that they'd be condemned by the just.

But today, the CCP secret agencies tore off their disguises and openly committed violence on American soil without restraint.

Hence, a grand parade against the persecution was held on June 14, 2008. After the parade, I stood listening to the fabulous speeches from all the speakers, even though there was noisy cursing from across the street. Besides the noise they made, they did not have any effect.

As I turned my head, I saw a tall, Caucasian man standing in the line. I went over and said hello to my long lost friend, Gu Mengsheng! He moved to New York and is married. His beautiful wife, Emily, is also a diligent Falun Gong practitioner. The happiness of the long awaited reunion was beyond words. I took a picture as proof.

Nine years ago, we met at Tsinghua University because of our common belief. Nine years later we were reunited in Flushing, protesting the CCP's exporting of violence. These nine years have been extraordinary for Falun Gong practitioners.