September 10, 2001

Dear Ambassador Yang:

Welcome to the University of Utah! We are honored to have a distinguished guest and leader like yourself visiting our campus.

As members of the University of Utah's student body, faculty and staff we write this letter to express our concern about the current situation in China. We have read of and are deeply concerned about the persecution of the practitioners of Falun Gong.

Recent reports indicate that the severe treatment of Falun Gong practitioners has increased dramatically. This treatment has often resulted in cruel punishment and even death. These actions are disturbing as they strip individuals of both human and civil rights.

Dr. Martin Luther King said: "The greatest tragedy is not the brutality of the evil people, but rather the silence of the good people." For this reason, we write this letter to plead that the persecutions towards Falun Gong practitioners be discontinued.

Please find attached a list of each of our names and signatures. We hope you will receive this letter knowing that each individual who has signed is deeply disturbed by the persecution of those practitioners striving peacefully and persistently for their deserved human rights and freedom of worship.

We plead with you to help bring this persecution to an end.

We have great hope for the future, and envision a world where all are allowed to worship in peace, according to the dictates of their own conscience.

May you and your country be blessed in its progression, as we work together for a better world.


Editor's note: Attached to this letter are 25 pages of signatures that signed by University professors, students & staff.