(Minghui.org) On the occasion of thirteenth anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful protest against the CCP’s persecution, United States Congressman Todd Akin from Missouri wrote the following letter on July 11, 2012, in solidarity with the Falun Gong practitioners’ public rally at the United States Capitol opposing the persecution.

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

July 11, 2012

To the attendees of the Falun Gong rally in the United States Capitol:

Thank you for coming today to mark the thirteenth anniversary of the beginning of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by Communist China.

The Chinese government has been persecuting millions of Falun Gong adherents since Chinese police begin arresting leaders of the Falun Gong movement beginning on July 20, 1999. Your efforts to draw attention to this fact and apply international pressure to the Chinese government is an important part of the fight against this persecution. Together we must do all we can to force the Chinese Communists to treat all of their citizens with respect, regardless of religious or philosophical beliefs.

Our Declaration of Independence states that human rights come to us from the Creator, that they are self-evident and that they are for all men. Based on this principle I believe that it is the responsibility of the United States to stand for freedom for all people and to pursue policies to help everyone enjoy their God-given liberty.

Free countries around the world must band together and oppose this persecution, and oppose the oppressive tactics of the Chinese government toward so many of their own citizens. The goal of a government should be to protect the rights of its citizens, not take those rights away.

Today, you are standing with the citizens of China, calling on the Communist regime to end their oppressive ways. I commend you for this effort and will work with you to apply pressure to the Chinese government. To that I end I have joined with my colleagues in Congress in sending numerous letters to Chinese and American authorities, calling for the respect of human rights in China and the release of specific prisoners of conscience. Thank you for fighting for freedom.

Sincerely,

W. Todd Akin

Member of Congress