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"Car Tour Around the US to Rescue Charles Li": The Trip to Indiana (Photos)

September 05, 2003 |  

(Clearwisdom.net) September 2nd report: After more than two weeks on the road, the "Car Tour Around the US to rescue Charles Li" that started from San Francisco passed through Chicago and arrived in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana. Many Falun Gong practitioners from the Chicago area came to join the activity.

Representative of Amnesty International Ms. Campbell speaks TV station reporter interviewing Ms. Yeong-ching Foo A tourist signs his name on our petition

At 11:00 a.m., Indiana Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference at the War Memorial Plaza in downtown Indianapolis. Charles Li's fiance Ms.Yeong-ching Foo related the righteous acts of Charles Li, who risked his life to go to China to expose the persecution of Falun Gong. She also called upon kind-hearted people to show concern for Charles Li's plight in China and give him moral support. California practitioner William, who has been with the car tour traveling eastward since August 13, elaborated in his speech on the support the tour has received from local governments, the media and local people along the way. An Indiana practitioner used his personal experience to expose Jiang regime's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Representative from Amnesty International Ms. Campbell traveled from Bloomington to participate in the press conference. In her speech, she expressed Amnesty International's continuous support and condemned Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong. She also called for the immediate release of Charles Li. Indianapolis RTV6 TV station, NTD TV station and other media outlets reported on the rescue event and interviewed Ms. Yeong-ching Foo.

The traditional Labor Day Parade in Indianapolis was held on August 30. As usual, the procession passed through the War Memorial Plaza in the downtown area. Locals who came out to watch the parade were attracted by the practitioners' graceful exercise demonstration and photo display boards, and many of them stopped to take a look and ask for information about Falun Gong. Many people signed their names to support the rescue of Charles Li. When the motorcade and crowds of people passed by, they slowed down to take a look at our banners and display boards and eagerly asked for materials from practitioners on the roadside. When they learned that we were trying to rescue an American citizen who is being persecuted in China, they gave us their support. This year is an election year for the Indiana state government and in Indianapolis. Many of the candidates, from the Governor to city council members, were present in the parade to greet people. We took this opportunity to clarify the truth about Falun Gong to these government officials. We gave them each a package of material about Falun Dafa and the rescue of Charles Li, hoping to gain their understanding and support. Governor candidate Ms. Simpson learned about the truth and expressed her support for Falun Gong. She also promised to do her best to help secure the release of Charles Li. State Assemblyman Mr. David Orentilicher, who used to be a lawyer, was well aware of the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong in China. He signed his name to support the rescue of Charles Li. During the parade, besides several government officials and assemblymen who signed their names to support us, we also collected more than a hundred signatures from local residents. The car tour will take these signatures to the US State Department in Washington DC.

The stay in Indianapolis provided the car tour members a good opportunity to clarify the truth to government officials and to let more kind-hearted people to learn about the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa and Jiang regime's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. During these events practitioners felt that they made great progress in self-improvement, as well as in their cooperation and coordination.