(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Columbia, Missouri, held a banner-signing and petition drive at the Columbia Farmers Market on July 30, 2022.
Visitors to the Columbia Farmers Market stop to sign a petition urging action to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and the forced organ harvesting crimes in China.
This popular Saturday morning market has expanded greatly in recent years and was voted #1 in the US by a nationwide contest held last summer.
Practitioners set up a large banner that read “Freedom for Falun Gong” near the entrance to the market, and as the weather had become pleasant after several weeks of extreme heat, many passersby readily stopped to learn more about Falun Gong and the persecution in China.
A visitor learns about the persecution of Falun Gong and signs the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
“The event went very well,” said Marianne Marti, an art conservation specialist who participated in the petition drive. “People seemed very grateful to learn about what is happening in China. Many of them said to me, 'Thank you for doing this!”
The petition will be presented to Missouri congressional leaders, seeking their support to help push forward pending legislation that calls for sanctions against perpetrators involved in forced organ harvesting.
Sara Effner, who helped organize the event, said, “I thought more people would prefer to sign the banner, since it’s quick and easy, but actually most people were eager to sign the petition, which involves taking the time to fill out their address. I believe it’s because they really wanted to make a difference to help stop the forced organ harvesting crimes targeting innocent Falun Gong practitioners in China.”
Screenshot of ABC-17 report
The banner-signing event was reported by a local TV network, ABC-17, which highlighted practitioners’ worldwide efforts to stop the persecution, as well as support from Missouri congressional representatives Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler and Congressman Sam Graves for a large-scale rally in Washington DC on July 21 which marked 23 years of the persecution in China.
Missouri practitioners plan to continue collecting signatures to help stop the organ harvesting crimes and they plan to take the signed banner to upcoming events in Chicago, including a parade in Chinatown and peaceful protest at the Chinese Consulate.
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