On March 26, 2002, Falun Gong practitioners joined New York City government officials to host a press conference at City Hall in New York City, exposing the crisis situation in Changchun, China. Local city officials and the New York director of the Laogai Research Foundation gave speeches, strongly condemning the persecution of Falun Gong in China authorities and expressing extreme concern regarding the crisis in Changchun City.
After covering the recent developments in Changchun, the 5,000 arrested, 100 feared dead, and ongoing extreme persecution by police, practitioners introduced Councilman Allan W. Jennings, Jr., who strongly condemned the Chinese actions against Falun Gong and offered his support to the group. He also addressed the gathered practitioners briefly in Chinese.
Next spoke Ann Noonan, the editor for FreeChurchForChina.org and New York Director of the Laogai Research Foundation (www.laogai.org). She read a statement regarding the many groups under persecution in China, and how religious persecution is state policy in China.
Finally, Rev. Ruben Diaz, Bronx Borough City Councilman, gave a speech in both English and Spanish regarding his commitment to doing everything possible to ensure freedom of belief in China.
Practitioners took questions from the media, and then demonstrated the Falun Dafa
exercises for a few minutes. The event was covered by national TV, local radio, and other media
organizations.