(Minghui.org) Strong condemnation of organ harvesting and support of people's choice of quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were a recurring theme at this year's July 20 rally on Capitol Hill.

“We have seen the remarkable change on the public reaction regarding the persecution of Falun Gong. Members of international communities are particularly concerned about organ harvesting,” echoes Zhang Erping, a Falun Gong spokesperson.

According to him, the exposed organ harvesting crimes have expanded support for Falun Gong beyond the usual elected officials and human rights organizations. The general public, legal and medical communities are equally concerned.

Over 1,000 Falun Gong practitioners and supporters held a rally to commemorate the 15^th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong on the west lawn of the US Capitol on July 17, 2014.

Deep Concerns Regarding Organ Harvesting

Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen kicked off the rally by reaffirming her support of Falun Gong and thanking practitioners for their support of H. Res. 281, the congressional resolution that she introduced to condemn the systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting.

Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen speaks at the rally.

New Jersey Congressman Donald Payne expresses his deep concern regarding organ harvesting in China:

“Falun Gong participants' organs have been dissected and stripped from their bodies, in order to meet the need of the vast organ transplantation system. These Falun Gong followers are sacrificed as living donors. Their organs are removed for the convenience of the transplant recipient. We should be expressing international outrage at the trafficking of organs in China and speak out against these human rights violations which go against religious conviction and bodily integrity.”

Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins shares Mr. Payne's concerns: “The atrocities being carried out on the Falun Gong practitioners in China is reprehensible. The practice of non-consensual organ harvesting is, for many of us, materials for nightmares or horror films. But hundreds and thousands of Chinese families who have brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, or friends, who are locked away in detention camps for practicing Falun Gong, this nightmare is very real.”

“Your support for these victims can generate social change. Your voices have already reached the shores of China. I want you to know that the American Congress stands behind you and your effort to counter the Chinese Communist Party and the abuses, and change the dangerous rhetoric surrounding the Falun Gong practice,” she continues in her support letter that her assistant read at the rally.

Zhang Erping, the Falun Gong spokesperson: “We have seen the remarkable change in the public's reaction regarding the persecution of Falun Gong. Members of international communities are particularly concerned on the organ harvesting issue because this is the most evil crime in this modern day. This is precisely why the EU Parliament passed an urgent resolution last December, the US Asia committee similarly marked up a similar resolution during the same month.”

Quitting the CCP: “Awesome!”

Faith McDonnell, director for Religious Liberty Programs at Institute on Religion and Democracy: “Despite the persecution, the Chinese people who believe in truth continue to pursue it. And their numbers are growing everyday. We see the evidence by the number of people who continue to renounce the communist party.

“I read the Nine Commentaries [on Communist Party]. I said, 'Yeah, go for it!' It's 171 million Chinese who have resigned from the communist party? That is awesome!” Ms. McDonnell continued.

In his proclamation letter to the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, New York State Senator Tony Avella embraces the Chinese term “tuidang” (quitting the CCP) and calls the “tuidang” movement “the largest grassroots movements in history.”

“The 'tuidang' movement has brought to the international community a renewed vision of a world without communism through a peaceful movement,” Mr. Avella writes so in the proclamation letter.

Martha Flores-Vazques, the District Leader in Queens County, New York, and Executive Director of Community Prevention Alternatives for Families in Crisis, has also issued a proclamation letter to the “tuidang” movement.

Yi Rong, president of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, informs the rally attendees that Chinese people are quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations at a speed of 90,000 each day.

She calls the “tuidang” movement “a personal decision” and “peaceful and personal awakening.” She states that the movement prepares China well for a better future because “a free and open society begins with people who are broad-minded and free.”

Power of Faith Celebrated

Chloe Schwenke, vice president of global programs at Freedom House

Chloe Schwenke, vice president of global programs at Freedom House, celebrated the power of faith and dignity at the rally, “We at Freedom House applaud these values [Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance] as exemplified by Falun Gong practitioners and their long struggle for dignity and freedom.”

Freedom House awarded its 2001 International Religious Freedom Award to Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of Falun Gong, and still stands by its choice.

“The Chinese government's campaign against Falun Gong has been, and continues to be severe, brutal, ugly, and vicious. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained and arrested, sent to prisons or re-education camps, or been subject to long and brutal interrogations, beatings, sleep deprivation, and other forms of torture. Human rights movements have documented more than 3,000 deaths of Falun Gong practitioners from torture and mistreatment – individual beings whose stories will largely never be told,” Ms. Schwenke shares what practitioners have gone through in the past 15 years in order to uphold their faith.

Dan Fefferman, president of the International Coalition for Religious Freedom

Dan Fefferman, president of the International Coalition for Religious Freedom, congratulated practitioners for their courage to stand up to the persecution and gaves his analysis as to why the CCP is afraid of Falun Gong: “The answer is simple... because deep in their hearts, the communists know the truth. Human beings are not matter in motion. They are spiritual beings with creativity, freedom, and will. Creativity, freedom and will do not come from matter. They come from the spirit. So when people who adhere to the materialistic ideology cling to their power, they naturally feel fear when they confront a movement that exposes their ideology as evil and false!”

Legislators' Commitment to Support

“If we believe in freedom, we must support the people in China who are being persecuted for their faith. Thank you for sending that message to the American people,” California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said in his speech.

Commenting on the fight for respecting people's beliefs of their own choosing, Mr. Rohrabacher said: “Falun Gong has been in the forefront of this fight, and God bless you for that. You are not just complaining about what has been done to the Falun Gong, but you are demanding human rights for people in China and throughout the world. I'm with you. I stand with you.”

California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

Congressman Chris Smith, a veteran legislator known for his efforts to promote human rights, is working on a bill to sanction individual human rights offenders in China with visa denials and financial penalties.

The rally ended with his support: “I commit, as Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives, to continue to hold hearings, to promote resolutions, to speak to Chinese diplomats and the administration. I intend to hold the Chinese government to account for the pain, suffering and death this needless campaign against Falun Gong has produced.”

California Congressman Sam Farr speaks at the rally.