(Minghui.org) On April 25, 2012, the 13th anniversary of Falun Gong's April 25 Appeal, New York State assemblymen held a press conference in Albany to announce their plan to take action to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Assemblymen Eric A. Stevenson (first from left, second row), Mark Johns (second from left, second row), Joel M. Miller (second from right, second row), and Michael Fitzpatrick (first from right, second row) held a press conference in Albany on April 25, 2012, condemning the Chinese government persecution of Falun Gong over the past 13 years and strongly urging China to stop the persecution immediately. Ms. Zhang Lianying (first from right) told about the persecution she experienced when she was in China.
The press conference was jointly called by Assemblymen Eric A. Stevenson and Mark Johns. Assemblymen Joel M. Miller and Michael Fitzpatrick attended the conference. They plan to send their message to the President and administrators in each state, proposing actions to help stop the persecution.
The four assemblymen praised the contributions of Falun Gong and its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, in their press release, and stressed the commendations that the United States and other countries around the world have given to Falun Gong.
Assemblyman Eric A. Stevenson
Assemblyman Eric A. Stevenson said Republican and Democratic assemblymen stood together at this press conference. It showed clearly that stopping the persecution of Falun Gong was not just a political topic, but also an issue of human rights and humanity that concerned everyone. “We got together to collectively call for an end to the persecution and clear the name of Falun Gong.” Stevenson said that, for Falun Gong practitioners to be persecuted for their peaceful exercises and for following Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance over the past 13 years, was intolerable. “The persecution must stop. We ask the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to stop the persecution immediately.” Stevens and his colleagues strongly urged the American government and President Obama to stop what the CCP's regime was doing. He hoped that April 25 would became the day the persecution ended. He strongly believed freedom would win.
Assemblyman Mark Johns
Assemblyman Mark Johns said the display clearly described the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party's regime, including harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. The display showed only a tiny part of the persecution. “The crime must stop! If we ignore it, the next person that organs are harvested from could be you or me. We have to, in each of the 50 states, in each of the legislatures, send a message to the current administration—please raise your voice in defense of the people in China who practice Falun Dafa,” declared Assemblyman Johns.
Assemblyman Joel Miller
Assemblyman Joel Miller said the American government wouldn't neglect important human rights issues and the violent persecution of innocent Chinese people because of its business partnership with China. The assemblymen present were only a few among many assemblymen who were against the persecution. All of them wanted the American government to stop the CCP persecution. “We should tell our President we won't do business with a country that abuses its citizens.”
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick
Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick said he was honored to stand together with people pursuing freedom and to condemn the CCP persecution. “We strongly urge all 50 states' governments and legislatures to call for President Obama to voice concern and help stop the persecution of Falun Gong.”
More than 70 Falun Gong practitioners participated in the press conference. Ms. Zhang Lianying recounted the brutal forms of torture she experienced during her seven years of detention in China, including being injected with unknown drugs, being deprived of sleep, and having her arms and legs pulled in four directions. Dr. Wang Wenyi gave a speech about the appalling crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners committed by Jiang's regime. Mr. Zenon Dolnyckyj, one of the 36 Western Falun Gong practitioners who unfolded a “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” banner in Tiananmen Square in 2001, shared his thoughts on why the issue of Falun Gong was the key issue in China.
Assemblyman Stevenson gave Falun Gong practitioners a tour of the Assembly Chamber after the press conference.
New York State Assembly Chamber
