(Minghui.org) May 13 is World Falun Dafa Day and this year is the 30th anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. Six New York State Senators issued proclamations to honor Falun Dafa Day after the Senate issued Resolution 2278 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction.

Top row, left to right: State Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Andrew J. Lanza, and Mario R. Mattera.Bottom row, left to right: State Senators Alexis Weik, Phil Boyle, and Leroy Comrie.

Proclamation from State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senate Majority Leader

The proclamation reads, “I, New York State Senator and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, am justly proud to recognize the 23rd annual World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2022.”

It also states, “Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the lives of residents of New York during these difficult times, offering Falun Dafa exercise instruction and health information through free online workshops, cultural programs, outdoor exercise sites, and more.

“Although it was widely popular and openly celebrated by the Chinese government throughout the 1990s, the former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Jiang Zemin, launched an unprecedented persecutory campaign to eradicate Falun Dafa in 1999, as he felt its emphasis on moral living and traditional Chinese culture were a threat to the atheist Communist regime that ruled largely by fear, that campaign continues to this day; and

“This systematic campaign remains largely hidden from view, as for years, the CCP had classified any information about human rights abuses against people who practice Falun Gong as “state secrets,” making it dangerous for anyone to investigate; however, hundreds of thousands have been tortured, and thousands – likely, many times more – have been confirmed dead; and

“As the persecution continues, Falun Dafa practitioners have consistently refused to use violence; today, across China, there are 200,000 or more underground printing houses set up by Falun Dafa practitioners who have downloaded censored literature on the persecution of Falun Dafa and used it to produce homemade leaflets, which volunteers have distributed, usually at night; and

“It was Falun Dafa practitioners who printed the most detailed expose on the CCP ever published, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, and distributed it throughout China at great personal risk so that, for the first time, Chinese citizens could learn the real story of the CCP, complete with the full history of its deceit and crimes.”

Proclamation from Senator Andrew J. Lanza

Proclamation from Senator Mario R. Mattera

Proclamation from Senator Alexis Weik

Proclamation from Senator Phil Boyle

Proclamation from Senator Leroy Comrie

Background: What Is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—and learned the five exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.