(Clearwisdom.net) "Bringing Jiang to Justice" has become an important topic among people in society. On June 21, 2003, more than 1500 Falun Gong practitioners from around the world held a press conference entitled, "Bringing Jiang to Justice" on Federal Square in downtown Chicago. They also held a grand parade.
On Saturday in Chicago, the sky was clear and blue, the wind blew gently, and the sun shone brilliantly. More than 1500 Falun Gong practitioners formed an orderly phalanx on Federal Square to demonstrate the exercises to the audience and to send righteous thoughts. The scene was spectacular. On the west side of the Federal Square, a huge banner more than 50-meters long was set up in front of a glass building. The banner stated, "The heavenly principle is clear: bring Jiang to justice" in both Chinese and English. Practitioners around the square held banners with the words, "Falun Dafa is good," "Stop the persecution," and "Rescue our family members," attracting many passerby to stop and watch.
At 10:45 a.m., the press conference began. The host read several letters of support from government officials in Chicago and Illinois and congratulatory messages to the Mid-US Fa conference. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley highly praised in his message the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and Falun Gong's contributions to people's physical and mental well-being. He also wished the Fa conference a great success. Senator Richard Durbin, State Representative Lane Evans, and State Representative Jan Schakowsky also sent congratulatory messages to the Fa conference, and expressed their support for Falun Gong practitioners' freedom of belief and their strong condemnation of this brutal persecution. More than a dozen more Chicago City Councilmen, Illinois State Senators and Representatives sent congratulatory messages. The mayor of the Peoria, Illinois proclaimed June this year to be the city's Falun Dafa Month. The city of Rock Island proclaimed June 16-22 to be the city's Falun Dafa Week. What is worth noting was that Mayor of Dixon, Mr. James Burke, drove for more than two hours from Dixon to attend the activity, and made a touching speech. He held a copy of the "Declaration of Independence" in hand and said, "Freedom, equality and democracy are the fundamental principles of America; freedom of belief is also a basic human right that has been generally acknowledged by people of the world. I appeal for the freedom of Falun Gong practitioners." The St. Louis Mayor, City Councilmen, Kansas City Mayor and several state representatives from the neighboring state of Missouri also sent congratulatory letters and resolutions. US Representative Lacy Clay from Missouri is one of the 39 members of the Congress who signed an amicus brief to urge the court to proceed with the lawsuit against Jiang. He especially sent a letter to express his strong support for this historic trial.
Plaintiff's attorney Terri Marsh recounted the process of litigation and legal evidence, and predicted the historical meaning of the righteous trial. She said,
"Through out history, evil men, and dictators have tortured, killed, persecuted and oppressed their own people. But the persecution of Falun Gong in China has a magnitude and significance which distinguishes it from the horrible and seemingly unending record of man's inhumanity to his fellow means by means of torture not seen before -- not even during the holocaust of WWII. Not only does the persecution target adults, but it also targets infants, the elderly, the infirm, women and their children. Not only does the torture continue day and night, twenty four hours a day, day after day after day, forcing its victims to endure unspeakable pain and suffering. Not only does this persecution target those who embrace the moral spiritual principles of Zhen-ShanRen (truthfulness-compassion-forbearance). This persecution targets the moral principles themselves, principles which are constitutive of our humanity. When all is said and done, what matters after we are gone. What of value or importance remains? I would submit that all the tall buildings we have built, and all the cities we have developed, the techniques of science, the libraries, the books, the plays - that all of human culture pales before the principles of compassion, truthfulness and tolerance. These principles are what make us who we are. They make up for our errors, our mistakes and our sins. We shine thru them and they thru us.
Zhen shan ren -- the moral fiber of our humanity. We filed this lawsuit in honor of these principles and in honor of all the victims of human rights abuses. This lawsuit stands as a testimony to the nobility and endurance of these principles. These principles cannot and will not submit to the irrational cruelty of defendant Jiang. The evil that seeks to destroy these principles will be held accountable.
We ask you China to take a step back and reflect on your own past and on your future. Join us in our campaign and lawsuit to bring Jiang to justice."
Charles Li's fiancée Ms. Yeong-Ching Foo called upon people at the press conference to help rescue Dr. Charles Li to return home. Charles has been subjected to physical and mental torture in a Chinese jail, including force-feeding and brainwashing. Ms. Foo said, "I'm proud of him, Charles risked his life to tell the Chinese people the truth. Charles lived a comfortable life in San Francisco, but he deeply loved people in China. He was willing to risk his life to tell them the truth behind all the lies and the brutality of the persecution, and hoped to awaken people to help stop the persecution. Just like Martin Luther King Jr, Schindler and other courageous people in history, he is ready to risk his own life for the sake of others."
The press conference was concluded with a dramatic performance orchestrated by practitioners named, "Chinese dictator's worst nightmare," a combination of puppet show and live performance. The performance dramatically showed the audience that the former Chinese leader Jiang dreamed about being tried in court.
After the press conference, more than 1500 Falun Gong practitioners began a grand parade in downtown Chicago from the Federal Plaza. Three Western practitioners held banners reading, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" in front of the procession. Following them were practitioners holding display boards and banners conveying messages "Urgently rescue our family members." After them, 150 practitioners in white and holding photos of Falun Gong practitioners who have been tortured to death in China marched to the Dafa music Pu Du and Ji Shi. The scene was solemn and touching.
A Western practitioner who distributed flyers along the street said, "People are eager to learn the truth. When I told them about the lawsuit against Jiang, they were all interested. I told the police on duty that I was glad to live in such a country, and hold the parade with the protection of the police. The police officer replied, 'Thank you.'"
The procession finally arrived at its destination--the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. When the practitioners lined up opposite the Consulate, two Chinese people held video cameras to film the practitioners from the top of the building. At this time, a Western female practitioner called out compassionately to them, "Falun Dafa is good!" After that, the rest of practitioners all followed her, calling out, "Falun Dafa is good!" and "Bringing Jiang to justice globally." Then, the practitioners sang together the song, "Falun Dafa is good!" The two persons immediate left the scene.
Category: April 25 Events