City of St. Louis, Missouri Passes Resolution Expressing Support for Falun Gong

By practitioners from St. Louis, Missouri, USA

On September 20, 2002, the City Council of St. Louis passed a resolution to express support for the free expression of the Falun Dafa practice, to thank the many Falun Dafa practitioners in the community for the examples they set and for their commitment. Representatives of local Falun Gong practitioners were present at the Council meeting and accepted the resolution.

City Councillor Lewis Reed (third from right) read the resolution. Also in photo are Mr. Murray (first from left) and vice Chairman of city council Mr. Shrewsbury.

City council member Mr. Lewis Reed read the resolution and delivered a speech. He said that as an American, it is natural to take basic human rights for granted. However in a social system like in China, Falun Gong practitioners face Jiang's regime's brutal persecution and still stand by their belief. This is called true belief. Thus he praised Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners' efforts. His assistant Mr. Murray also gave a brief speech. He said he was deeply moved by the spirit of Falun Gong. Mr. Reed presented the original resolution in a beautiful frame to practitioners. A practitioner by the name of Bonnie addressed the audience. She expressed sincere appreciation for the support of the St. Louis City Council on behalf of St. Louis practitioners.

Mr. Reed came to know Falun Gong through Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray once watched a Falun Gong video program and learned the Jiang regime's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. In July 2002, he visited Zhang Cuiying's painting exhibition held in City Hall and gained a further understanding of Falun Gong. He then recommended Falun Gong to Mr. Reed.

The resolution noted that Falun Gong is a non-political, non-religious movement founded on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Falun Gong has been practiced publicly in the State of Missouri since 1995. The resolution stated that the free expression of one's beliefs is a fundamental right of every citizen and resident of this country and every effort must be made to protect and secure the exercise of that right. Thus the City of St. Louis expressed support for the free expression of the Falun Dafa practice and thanked the many Falun Dafa practitioners in their community for practitioners' example and commitment.

After the meeting, Mr. Reed talked to practitioners for a while and once again expressed his appreciation and support to the principles of Falun Gong.