New York: Practitioners Peacefully Appeal at Chinese Consulate to Protest Atrocities in China

On January 12, 2003, in phase with practitioners all over the world, practitioners from the greater New York area went to the New York Chinese Consulate to hold a peaceful appeal. They condemned Jiang's regime's escalating ruthless persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and exposed to the public the urgent situation of the rapid increase in the death toll since November.

Although the sky was clear, it was very cold, especially in the area where the Chinese Consulate is located. Blasts of cold air made it extremely chilly. Practitioners taking part in the peaceful appeal were not moved at all. They continuously practised the Falun Gong exercises and sent forth righteous thoughts [thinking upright thoughts to purify oneself and one's surroundings] to support fellow practitioners in China.

New Tang Dynasty TV station and Radio Free Asia (RFA) sent reporters to cover the event. Media paid special attention to the lawsuit filed in the US Federal District Court against Jiang Zemin, who has been charged with genocide. Practitioners answered reporters' questions in detail and reminded the media to pay attention to the follow-up on the lawsuit.

Practitioners in the Greater New York area continued their peaceful appeals until January 14 in front of the New York Chinese Consulate and held candle light vigils in the evening.