Family and friends are concerned for the safety of Charles Li, a U.S. citizen and resident of Menlo Park, Calif., who has been detained in China for more than six months.
At 9 a.m. Friday, a group conducting a nationwide "rescue drive" will meet in front of City Hall in Corvallis to discuss Li's situation and to collect signatures on a petition calling for his release.
The drive began in San Francisco and will conclude in Washington, D.C., where a delegation plans to present to signature to various officials, including the staff at the U.S. State Department.
| á |
The effort is sponsored by Friends of Charles Li, Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners, and Friends of Falun Gong.
In January, Li was detained in China, where he intended to bring awareness to persecution of Falun Gong [practitioners]. Falun Gong, an ancient Chinese mind and body practice, has been under attack from the Chinese government since it was outlawed in 1999. Since then, thousands of followers have been persecuted and imprisoned.
For more information, call Hong Liner, 754-9938; Steve Ispas, 408-489-5752; or Sherry Zhang, 415-845-5295. Or see www.rescuecharles.org or www.faluninfo.net.
http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2003/08/14/news/community/thuloc07.txt