(Minghui.org) “I am collecting signatures in memory of my English teacher. She was tortured to death in a forced labor camp in China for practicing Falun Gong when I was young. Now I am grown up. But the persecution is still going on. We must work hard to stop it.” These were the words of a Falun Gong practitioner, spoken to a couple at the Minnesota State Fair. The couple were touched and immediately signed the petition against the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners in Minnesota conducted a signature drive at the state fair, held from August 27 to September 7, to raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong and to expose the CCP's crime of organ harvesting from living practitioners. More than 10,000 people signed the petition. Many said that they would tell their friends about the issue, as part of a larger effort to help stop the persecution.

Practitioners collect signatures to condemn the CCP's forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners.

Some passersby called their friends and asked them over to sign the petition. Some wanted to donate money to the effort against the persecution. Two ladies said, after signing the petition, that they had met the young riders from the Ride to Freedom project this summer while camping at the same campground in Colorado. That was their first exposure to Falun Gong. They admired the courage of the young riders.

Two young Chinese talked with a practitioner for more than twenty minutes. They signed the petition and quit the CCP's Young Pioneers. They commended the practitioners' efforts. One said, “Thank you for doing this on such a hot day. You are spreading positive energy. Take care.”

The Twin City Falun Gong Club set up a booth at the fair to show an exercise demonstration video, introduce Falun Gong to people and expose the 16-year persecution in China.

Many people stopped to sign the petition. A young man in the booth nearby walked over and said to a practitioner, “You are so peaceful.”

Exercise Demonstration Draws Attention of Fairgoers

Falun Gong practitioners presented six exercise demonstrations on the stage near the main entrance to the fair. Many visitors received flyers and expressed their interest in learning Falun Gong.

People were surprised to learn that such a peaceful practice is being persecuted in China. One woman asked a practitioner, “Will these signatures have any effect, given that the persecution is so grave?”

A practitioner answered, “Certainly, they will. In fact, our elected representatives will listen to their constituents' call to support H. Res 343 demanding that the CCP stop live organ harvesting.”

“What is this for?” asked a little girl as her mother signed the petition. “This is to rescue people,” answered her mother.