Hello,

My name is Brad Carson. I'm a junior at Sonoma State University studying theater and psychology. I also work at a group home for boys with disabilities. Last week I was invited to Washington DC to speak at the State Department about something that I was a part of over a month ago.

In November 2001, I went to China as part of the first group of non-Chinese people to peacefully appeal to the Chinese government for the rights of its citizens.

Thirty-five of us from 13 different countries assembled in Tiananmen Square to let the Chinese people know that the world is aware of their government's State run terrorism against Falun Gong. During our peaceful appeal in Tianamen Square, the thirty-five of us were thrown into police vans by members of Beijing's "610 Office," which is a government agency specifically created to destroy Falun Gong. During the 30-hour plus detention which followed, 10 of us were beaten.

One of the people beaten was Leeshai Lemish, who is a college student from Rohnert Park in Sonoma County. He was kicked, repeatedly slapped in the face, and kneed in the groin.

We had all of our rights as international citizens taken away, simply for holding a banner which said "Truth-Compassion-Tolerance" in both English and Chinese. We assembled in Tianamen Square for the rights of the Chinese people and the people of the world.

While in China, I felt first hand the persecution the Chinese government inflicts on its people. In talking to the police who were detaining us, I found out that the government has been telling the Chinese people that the rest of the world is as actively against Falun Gong as they are in China.

By talking to a guard, I also found out that he had never heard of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, or that people outside of China had died for the human rights of others. The policeman also didn't know that millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China also risked their lives for his rights.

Your voices count. By speaking out against the global State sponsored terrorism against Falun Gong by the Chinese government, you can help stop it. Yes, this is an issue for the State Department, the Senate, and the Congress--and they are helping. So can you.

America must unite against State sponsored terrorism. Please write a letter condemning the Chinese government for beating American citizens without provocation.