NEW YORK, October 29, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) -- Thousands of Falun Gong supporters and practitioners gathered at each stop of Jiang Zemin's visit to North America over the past week, calling for an end to the three-year campaign of terror in China. Peaceful appeals were carried out around the clock in Chicago, Houston, and Los Cabos, the major stops in Jiang's tour of North America last week.

"We are here to give a voice to the hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners suffering under Jiang's persecution in China," commented Adam Montanaro, one of the volunteers taking part in the appeals. "Jiang is being treated as a visiting dignitary, but his crimes against humanity over the last fifteen years place him closer to Milosevic -- one of the worst violators of human rights in our century."

Peaceful Appeal in Four Cities, Vigils Around the World

In Chicago, rows and rows of people who practice Falun Gong sat in silent meditation around the clock outside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel downtown where Jiang stayed. Banners fluttering in the wind and rain called for an end to the three year persecution, many of them held by friends and family members of those who have been killed by torture in China under Jiang's edict to "eradicate Falun Gong" by any means. Jiang, demanding that the protestors be kept from his sight, reportedly did not leave his hotel during his time in Chicago."

Two days later in Houston, over two thousand people gathered outside the Hotel Intercontinental to continue the peaceful appeal. Every street around the hotel was lined with people holding signs and sitting in quiet meditation. They remained there, around the clock, despite the unseasonable cold, wind, and rain. On the morning of the 25th, many of the demonstrators traveled the four hours to Crawford, Texas, where Jiang was to visit President Bush's ranch.

In support of Falun Gong, the Mayor of Austin declared October 25th "Falun Dafa Day." Houston had previously honored Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, declaring him an "Honorary Citizen and Goodwill Ambassador" in May, 1994, and declaring October 12, 1996, as "Li Hongzhi Day."

Peaceful appeals were also held in Los Cabos, Mexico, where Jiang was attending the APEC summit.

The participants in the appeals came from as far as Australia, Thailand, Taiwan, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, and all around the U.S. Around the clock appeals were held in major cities around the world, including Munich, Berlin, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, France, Switzerland, London, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney, Stockholm, and Austria.

At many of the appeals, a loud group of Chinese nationals -- the "welcome team" -- were bussed in by the Chinese embassy. These individuals were reportedly offered incentives in exchange for welcoming Jiang with pre-printed banners and organized cheers. The various perks, however, which reportedly included free meals and tickets to a celebrity basketball match, were seemingly insufficient, as the "greeters" continuously took lengthy breaks, even when Jiang was expected to pass by, and ran for the busses every time the rain and wind picked up, leaving their Chinese flags lying in the mud.

Voice of America reported last week that members of the "welcome team" were directed to sign a document relinquishing their First Amendment rights or else face a $5,000 fine. The document also allegedly required greeters to report any contact with Falun Gong practitioners to the group leaders.

Genocide Lawsuit Filed Against Jiang, Local Hotels Cancel Reservations Under Pressure

During Jiang's visit, he and his body guards were served with a lawsuit (read report) charging him with genocide and exploiting his official position to commit atrocious human rights violations in direct violation of the values enshrined in the constitutions, international treaties, and laws of all civilized nations today. The week before, other plaintiffs filed another case against Jiang in the International Criminal Court.

Interestingly, signs of Jiang's pressure tactics (read report) also surfaced in Houston, where reservations held by Falun Gong practitioners at a local hotel were cancelled at the last minute. Since then the American Civil Liberties Union has entered negotiations with the hotel's attorneys on behalf of the practitioners of Falun Gong who held the reservations.

The "black list" surfaced again in Mexico. The black list, a list of Falun Gong practitioners around the world apparently maintained by the Chinese government, is provided to other nations along with pressure to restrict their travel and rights to public protest. Upon entering the country, travelers found their names registered with the Mexican police as "dangerous person[s]."

In light of the record of completely peaceful Falun Gong appeals around the world throughout the more than three years of persecution in China, Jiang's propaganda and blacklist are entirely unfounded and in many cases illegal (read report).

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Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999, fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 509 deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER- Contacts: Gail Rachlin 917-501-4441, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, or Feng Yuan 917-941-1097. Email: faluninfoctr@nycmail.com, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/