(Clearwisdom.net) July 20, 2005 marked exactly six years since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Jiang Zemin, illegally launched the persecution against Falun Gong in 1999. This brutal suppression of innocent people is still on-going. In remembrance of more than 2,700 fellow Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their lives in the CCP's human rights abuses, practitioners from Manchester and surrounding cities gathered at the Chinese Consulate on this anniversary to hold a press conference, to appeal for the public's concern and to urge the CCP to stop the persecution of Falun Gong immediately.

Practitioners hold a press conference to expose the human rights abuses in China

Peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Consulate

After the press conference, Western and Chinese practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises and gave out leaflets to passers-by. Many people stopped to view pictures exposing the facts of the persecution and chat with practitioners. A Chinese man, who had believed some of the false information about Falun Gong spread by the CCP, saw a photo of practitioner Ms. Gao Rongrong who was tortured with an electric baton for seven hours and whose face was grossly disfigured. The man was shocked and left speechless. Another Chinese man told a practitioner that he had read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party published by the Epoch Times. He believed what the Nine Commentaries say (exposing the CCP's evil nature), and affirmed it with his own experiences. He also asked if the practitioner had any copies of the Nine Commentaries, as he wanted to have one more copy.

Falun Gong practitioners appeal outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester on a daily basis. Over the last few years, practitioners have met many Chinese people who showed their support for practitioners and condemned the persecution. Many people have had the chance to learn about Falun Gong, particularly those who visit the consulate on business.

A practitioner talked about a Chinese father and son that she met. That day it was raining, and as there is no place in front of the Chinese Consulate to avoid rain, the father invited the practitioner to get into their car to avoid the rain. He also said to the practitioner, "You just practice exercises, how can they (the CCP) do so (persecute you)? It's really too much!"

Over the six-year peaceful journey, more and more people have seen through the CCP's brutality in the persecution of Falun Gong. They have also witnessed the peacefulness, rationality and perseverance of Falun Gong practitioners who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200507/27829.html