(Minghui.org) Hundreds of Falun Dafa practitioners across China are suing former Chinese communist dictator Jiang Zemin, a first in Chinese history, and the number of suits increases daily.

Many practitioners who left China because of the persecution of Falun Dafa and have been granted refuge status in their adopted countries have likewise submitted lawsuits against the former dictator.

To focus public attention on this sudden tide of lawsuits, Canadian practitioners in Toronto set up a wall of banners along St. George and Bloor streets near the Chinese Consulate General on June 8, 2015.

Passersby signs to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Dafa in China.

A freelance writer interviewing a Falun Dafa practitioner

Many people came over to find out what was happening. In just a few hours, over 160 had signed a petition calling for an end to the Chinese regime's harvesting of Falun Dafa practitioners' organs against their will for unethical profit.

Many practitioners in Toronto were persecuted in China before they sought asylum in Canada. They are all submitting their lawsuits to the Chinese Supreme Court and Chinese Supreme Procuratorate.

Pediatrician's Family Sues Jiang Zemin

Dr. Zheng Zhi (right) and his mother. His family filed a lawsuit against Jiang Zemin.

Dr. Zheng Zhi and his wife were both pediatricians at Hospital 153 in the Chinese city of Liaoyang. His father was a physician and director of the Occupational Disease Department.

The day after Jiang Zemin called for the nationwide arrests and persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, the hospital director ganged up with the local police department and local TV station to start a political campaign against Dr. Zheng.

Dr. Zheng was forced to attend daily meetings where he would be publicly humiliated, threatened, and cursed at by the hospital director. Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff were directed to attend these meetings and watch Dr. Zheng be humiliated.

He was fired from his job. The hospital ceased paying his salary and only allowed him 180 yuan (about USD 29) a month to live on.

His wife was also implicated and dismissed. His father died in less than a year due to the harassment.

The persecution extended to Dr. Zheng Zhi's sisters' families, who were also under surveillance and harassed frequently.

Mr. Zheng's family was forced to flee the city about 10 days after his son was born. They later managed to escape to Thailand, where the United Nations aided them in securing refugee status in Canada. They arrived in Canada in 2006.

Ms. Gao Shunqin Files Lawsuit Against Jiang Zemin

Gao Sunqin standing before a banner that reads: Bring Jiang to Justice

Ms. Gao Sunqin, a Falun Dafa practitioner from China's Wuhan City, has filed a lawsuit against Jiang Zemin and mailed it, together with all available evidence of the torture she suffered, to the Supreme Court and Supreme Procuratorate of China.

Ms. Gao was arrested multiple times, jailed, and severely injured both physically and mentally. She was beaten in detention, subjected to brainwashing, deprived of sleep, handcuffed, hung up, and injected with unknown drugs that caused her memory loss.

In April 20, 2004, Ms. Gao was again detained by the local police and 610 Office. 610 Office director Chen Qiyi gave orders that she was to be injected with unknown drugs. She experienced dizziness and palpitations, symptoms that worsened over time. She then began to lose her memory. By June, when she was jailed in Hewan Forced Labor Institute, she had lost the ability to concentrate.

In November, she developed a fever and severe foot pain and couldn't walk. Later, her teeth began to loosen and fall out, and her body swelled up.

In May 2005, her son reclaimed her from the forced labor camp. She was near death. Due to memory loss, she didn't recognize him.

“Jiang was the culprit who started the persecution of Falun Dafa in July 1999,” said Ms. Zhang, the event coordinator.

“Jiang extended the persecution outside of China, including Canada. For years, the Chinese Consulate put up pictures and information that slandered Falun Dafa, poisoning the minds of many Chinese. Their lies and deceit instigated hatred of Falun Dafa.

“Many practitioners outside of China are on a blacklist, preventing them from returning to China,” she added.

Ms. Zhang affirmed the event's primary goal, which was to tell the world that Jiang Zemin must be brought to justice for perpetrating the persecution of Falun Dafa.