Bike ride sends message about persecuted children in China

A group of teenagers pedaled through Michigan City on Thursday, but it was no ordinary bike ride. The teens from all over the country are part of a group called Pedals of Peace.

The group is riding to raise awareness about the persecution of children in China for practicing a form of meditation known as Falun Gong. Falun Gong [...] emphasizes truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.

The goal of the ride, which started in Washington, D.C., is to reach Chicago today in time for a news conference and rally to speak out about the plight of Falun Gong children in China.

Chicago was chosen because it is where a lawsuit is being filed against Jiang Zemin, former leader of China who started the persecution in 1999.

"We just want to send a message so that the government will stop arresting and killing kids in China for practicing Falun Gong," Hao Wang, 19, said. He is a student at Yale University who is participating in the ride.

Brian Nieh, 15, of Maryland, also is riding to Chicago.

"We are moved by the stories of these kids in China. In America, we have the freedom to do something about this. In China, the kids don't have that kind of freedom," Nieh said.

He said his practice of Falun Gong has taught him to be a good person and helped to calm his temper.

"That's all the kids in China that do this want, to be a good person, but in China it's illegal," he said.

For more information on the ride, visit the Web site www.pedalsofpeace.org.

For more information on the plight of Chinese children who practice Falun Gong and what you can do to help, visit www.petalsofpeace.org.

Source: http://www.michigancityin.com/articles/2004/05/21/news/news7.txt