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New Yorkers Speak Out Against the Persecution (Photos)

September 25, 2004 |  

(Clearwisdom.net) In late September, while the 59th United Nations Summit is held in New York City, Falun Gong practitioners from all over the world have come to New York, to hold anti-torture exhibitions and raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong. Many New Yorkers have learned about the persecution and have taken action against it. Some of them said they would call their government representatives and tell them about the persecution in China. Some have expressed their opposition to the persecution.

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Truth clarification

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Falun Gong practitioners send forth righteous thought at a financial center

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New Yorkers sign a petition to call for an end to the persecution

After Learning the Story of Falun Gong, People Said, "The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Everyone Needs It."

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More and more people learn Falun Gong

Many people have heard about Falun Gong and learned about the persecution through the practitioners' intensive truth-clarification activities. A passer-by told a practitioner, "The world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It isn't just for China, but for the whole world. What Falun Gong practitioners are doing is great! How could such peaceful people be tortured? You are so peaceful and calm. It is from the bottom of your hearts. You have a peaceful light from within. The world needs this. Everyone needs it."

A Passer-by Feels the Pain of the Torture Victims

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A woman feels the pain that a Falun Gong practitioner endures

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The woman sits next to a Falun Gong practitioner playing a torture victim

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The woman helps hold the banner

The reporter noticed that a woman gently stroked the hand of a female Falun Gong practitioner who was playing the role of a torture victim. She looked very concerned. She was trying to feel the pain of the torture victim. She kindly asked the Falun Gong practitioner if she felt cold and gave her a hug. The woman said, "It is too cruel to torture people for doing exercises!" She sat down next to the Falun Gong practitioner demonstrating the torture method of being confined in a small cage and tried to feel his pain. She said, "How can someone treat his fellow countryman like this?" Finally, this kind woman walked to the banner with the words, "This Is Happening in China," and helped hold the banner.

"The One Who Persecutes Good People Must Be Crazy. It Has to Be Stopped."

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People are concerned about the persecution

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Visitor at the exhibits

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Visitor at the exhibits

A Westerner told Falun Gong practitioners that he thought Falun Gong was beautiful. The persecution of Falun Gong was like the persecution of Christians, he said. The Chinese leader who was responsible should step down. He said, "He must be crazy. He is a madman like Hitler. It has to be stopped. Has to be stopped... we know about various persecutions taking place, but none of them is as harsh as this one." When a Falun Gong practitioner told him the persecution had been going on for five years, he said even five days would have been too long. He wished the practitioners good luck.

Agent at New York Mercantile Exchange: "It Shouldn't Have Happened."

Falun Gong practitioners held an anti-torture exhibition and photo exhibit at Broadway and Liberty. It was close to the financial center of Manhattan. Many employees of financial companies go to have lunch there.

A gentleman who works in NYMEX said, "The persecution shouldn't have happened. Many people don't know things like this are still happening in China."

One woman said, "The persecution is so wrong. Everyone should have the freedom of belief. I also do meditation. People shouldn't be persecuted for meditation or having a belief. Everyone should have the freedom of speech. If you torture people like this in New York, you would be tracked down, arrested and punished." This woman signed her name on the appeal letter and took some truth-clarification materials to put in her restaurant.

"The Media Should Let Everyone Know about the Persecution"

A passer-by said, "The United States hasn't shown much concern about the persecution in China. I will ask the media to report about it. It is ridiculous that all the media focus on only Iraq. They should focus on this persecution also, let everyone know about it and help stop it."

A T-shirt vendor took some truth-clarification materials. He said he would help us distribute them at his booth.

A Woman from New Jersey: "The Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners in China Is a Tragedy."

At the photo exhibit at Broadway and Spring, three bicyclists from France said they had heard about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. All of them signed the appeal letter. One of them works at an institution studying Chinese forced labor camps. She knew about the prisoner abuse in Chinese forced labor camps. They wished us success.

On Union Square, a woman from Princeton, New Jersey, told the reporter that she had heard about Falun Gong in New Jersey. There were Falun Gong practitioners in Princeton. She had read some materials about the persecution in China. She said, "I think the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China is a tragedy. People there can't have the freedom of the belief." She signed her name on the appeal letter.

Falun Gong Practitioner from Houston: "Many people are willing to support Falun Gong."

A practitioner from Houston said many people understood Falun Gong's situation. They were willing to help distribute materials to their friends and to call their Congressmen to ask for support for Falun Gong. Many people had signed the letter to call for the stop to the persecution. Three or four pages were filled up on his signature book within three hours. A woman took one book to her school so that teachers and students could sign too.

Many moving exchanges are taking place in New York City every day, as people are coming to know Falun Dafa and the persecution.