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Seattle, U.S.A.: Falun Gong Parade and Rally to Demand Investigation of the CCP's Forced Labor Camps (Photos)

April 19, 2006 |   By Minghui reporter Wang Ying from Seattle

(Clearwisdom.net) On the morning of April 17, 2006, prior to the visit of the head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Tuesday, Falun Gong practitioners held a parade and rally in Seattle to display the beauty of Falun Dafa and to expose the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners over the past seven years. At the same time, the practitioners requested the American Government and people to support and join in the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), to go to China to investigate the atrocities disclosed recently by the media about the CCP harvesting Falun Gong practitioners' organs and cremating their murdered bodies to destroy the evidence in forced labor camps and prisons.

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Exposing the CCP's atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners in forced labor camps

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Parade procession

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Parade procession

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Demanding that Jiang, Luo, Liu and Zhou be brought to justice

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Supporting the 10 million brave people who have withdrawn from the CCP

Participants in the parade were Falun Gong practitioners from many areas including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Vancouver. In the procession, there were elderly people and children. Everyone was solemn and respectful. The parade started from Chinatown, marching along Fourth Avenue to Westlake Center in the city center.

The parade's organizer said that the local police had initially only agreed for the practitioners to walk on the sidewalk, but when they saw that the number of people coming for the parade far exceeded what they had estimated, they temporarily agreed to close up the streets for their parade. In addition, many local media outlets came to cover the event.

During the parade, Falun Gong practitioners held banners reading, "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Zhou Yongkang to Justice," "Demand to Let the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong to Go to China's Forced Labor Camps to Investigate the Facts," "Strongly Condemn the Atrocities of Live Organ Harvests from Falun Gong Practitioners in China's Forced Labor Camps," and "Urgently Call for an End to the CCP's Nazi-like Atrocities," and other signs.

The parade attracted a lot of passersby to stop and watch. Many spectators expressed their admiration after learning about the aim of the parade, and expressed their sympathy for the Falun Gong practitioners who have been suffering persecution in China. The existence of the CCP's forced labor camps troubled them, and they hoped to stop the persecution.

A Seattle citizen expresses his disapproval of Hu Jintao's visit because of the persecution

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American citizens show concern over the persecution facts

Chris, a Seattle resident, said, "The persecution of Falun Gong is too evil and shocking. I'm unable to imagine that there can be such an anti-humanity persecution, and their leader even can freely come to America, and be welcomed. It is too amazing."

Chris continued, with tears welling in his eyes, "I'm really very sad. I'll pass the truth clarification materials to my colleagues, and contact my representatives in Congress. We really need to do something."

When mentioning the coming visit of the leader of the CCP, Hu Jintao, Chris said, "He is not welcome in America. There is such an atrocity [in China], but it seems like nothing has happened. No, he is not welcome." Chris said, "I welcome you to come to visit my home, but not Hu Jintao."

He also signed the petition for himself and on behalf of his whole family.

Seattle resident Doris said, "It's obvious that people in America have freedom of speech. Not until the end of the war [WWII] did I know of the existence of the Nazi's concentration camps. For all people, it's terrible to lock up people in concentration camps. Maybe many of us still haven't learned about the things happening in China." Doris said, "The parade is great, making the truth known to the public."

Spectator Amy said, "I want to know more, so as to take some action to disintegrate the CCP. I knew nothing before, and the parade helped me to learn about the persecution for the first time."

On the afternoon of April 17, several Falun Gong practitioners from the Pacific Northwest, the CIPFG, Amnesty International Seattle Branch, the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP and China Democratic Union and other groups held a rally at Westlake Center. Regarding the CCP's outrageous atrocities of harvesting Falun Gong practitioners' organs and cremating their bodies to destroy the evidence, they called on America and kind people and groups throughout the world to support and join the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong to go to China to investigate the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in all forced labor camps and prisons. At the same time, the rally supported the great deeds of 10 million Chinese people who have withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations.

CIPFG representative Li Ying: It's very important to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the CCP's forced labor camps

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CIPFG representative Li Ying

A representative of "The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong," Dr. Li Ying made a speech at the rally. She pointed out that several witnesses have testified to the atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners in the CCP's concentration camps, forced labor camps, and other related facilities. Initial investigation has also confirmed their testimony. Three weeks after the revelation of this Nazi-like crime, the CCP broke their silence and publicly denied the charge. Actually, the CCP needed time to arrange, according to its habitual tricks, to destroy and transfer evidence, and then like a thief crying, "Stop thief," the CCP invited international organizations to visit in an attempt to avoid the condemnation and pressure from the international community.

Li Ying said that recalling the CCP's history of lies over the past dozens of years, it was heard that US investigators visited Sujiatun in the company of the CCP, and no evidence was found. It is not surprising. Li Ying said, "The so-called investigation and visit, manipulated and controlled by the CCP, will definitely not achieve any substantial results. This reflects that it is very important and necessary to establish a completely independent international investigation group, to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation on all forced labor camps, prisons, hospitals and other related facilities where Falun Gong practitioners are detained."

According to Li Ying's introduction, the CIPFG hold such a principle: invite the international human rights organizations, the media, governments and individuals to join in the CIPFG, especially during the head of CCP leader Hu Jintao's upcoming visit. The CIPFG will call on the Washington State Governor and President George Bush to urge Hu to open all forced labor camps, prisons and hospitals and other related facilities where Falun Gong practitioners are detained, to accept the investigation of the international community. At the same time, they ask the Governor and the President to require Hu to secure the investigators a smooth entry into China and to guarantee their safety.

Li Ying said, "If the CCP sincerely wants to investigate these atrocities, at least it should allow the investigation group to enter China."

Seattle practitioner David: It's time for us to put into practice our pledge made 60 years ago

Seattle Falun Gong practitioner David said, "Sixty years ago, when the Allied troops found the Nazi concentration camps, the international community made the solemn pledge, "Never Again." There should never have occurred such an inhuman holocaust. But the tragedy is happening again. This time, it is in China. It is happening to those Falun Gong practitioners who practice Chinese traditional cultivation.

"Last month, the media reported and the witnesses revealed that there are at least 36 concentration camps in China. The largest concentration camp can hold 120,000 people. These concentration camps are used to detain Falun Gong practitioners, and harvest their organs while they are still alive and finally cremate their murdered bodies to destroy the evidence. The news is appalling, but consistent with the CCP's policy of brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

"We call on Seattle and the American Government not to only consider economics, trade, and advanced technology, but to use conscience to pay attention to the brutal persecution happening in China. We are talking about rescuing people's lives. We call on all governments to join in the investigation of the tragedies taking place in the CCP's concentration camps. We demand Hu Jintao to immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong.

"Today, it's time for us to put into practice the pledge we made 60 years ago. We call on the American President, American Government and the international community to keep our promise and not allow it to happen again!"

American doctor: The doctors participating in the persecution in the CCP's concentration camps have violated doctors' professional ethics

Dr. Alejandro Centurion from California condemned the CCP's atrocities of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in the concentration camps. He called on the medical circle in America, government officials and the American people to stand up to stop the CCP's Nazi-like atrocities.

Dr. Centurion said, "Actually, illegal organ harvesting has been practiced for many years in China. In the 90s, the CCP was extensively condemned by the international community and governments for removing organs from executed prisoners. In 2001, the US Congress listened to a Chinese doctor's testimony, who testified that the CCP harvested organs from executed prisoners. But today, the CCP is still performing such barbaric acts, as shown in the revelation of Sujiatun and 36 more similar concentration camps across China. Such an extent of the persecution is beyond anyone's imagination."

Dr. Centurion said, "The incident of the CCP's concentration camps arouses my serious concern and that of other medical staff, because such a crime has involved doctors and nurses. They should have healed the wounded and rescued the dying, but now they are active in participating in the biggest crime against humanity. All this is the consequence of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong."

Huo Mingxue from the China Democratic Union: Break through the darkness before dawn

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Huo Mingxue from the China Democratic Union

Huo Mingxue from the China Democratic Union spoke at the rally. "The appalling revelation of the CCP's secret concentration camps shocked the world. The CCP regime has used the Nazi's brutal methods in Auschwitz Concentration Camp, covertly detaining Falun Gong practitioners, torturing them to death, and even harvesting their organs while they are still alive. Such inhuman barbarity, adds one more mountain-like bloody debt for us to record and punish the CCP for its monstrous atrocities.

"The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party published by The Epoch Times newspaper has inspired an upsurge in people quitting the CCP.

"With its desperate mindset, the CCP frenziedly carries out a mass killing to destroy the evidence of their atrocities. It has transferred all practitioners detained in the Sujiatun Concentration Camp to other places.

"The CCP regime's collapse is imminent. Our resistance to the CCP tyranny becomes even more difficult, and there will be sacrifice. But it is the darkness before the dawn. Let's keep it up, what greets us will be the glorious dawn of triumph."

Gao Dawei: Ten million brave people are true heroes deserving of the world's attention

Gao Dawei of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP said, "Falun Gong practitioners from North America, and volunteers from The Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP and The Epoch Times and other righteous groups have gathered in Seattle to express their concern to the kind people of Seattle and all American people.

"The commercial delegation dispatched by the CCP will come to Seattle soon. I want to remind the American people, behind each head of the CCP, behind each of their smiling faces, is hidden the blood of millions of murdered Chinese people, and the blood debts of Falun Gong practitioners who have been tortured to death.

"When shaking hands and talking with the head of the CCP, please do not forget its crimes committed against Chinese citizens in the past dozens of years. Today, it is still going on. Under the CCP's rule, there is a wide gap between the rich and the poor. The funds invested to China from around the world have focused on only several million corrupt Chinese officials, which leads to the extreme disparity between the rich and the poor. Over a hundred million children can't afford go to school, and over a hundred million workers do not have enough food.

"We call on the American government, in the face of the CCP's monstrous crimes in the past dozens of years, the Chinese people have woken up. They have broken away from the vile CCP in a peaceful and non-violent and most effective way, that is, through spreading the Nine Commentaries, and withdrawing from the CCP and its affiliated evil organizations. As of today, the number of brave people who have broken away from the CCP has reached 10 million.

"After the revelation of the CCP's atrocities of stealing Falun Gong practitioners' organs, more and more Chinese people have sent us their statements to announce their withdrawal from the CCP. The statements are increasing daily. These people are true heroes who deserve the world's attention.

"I call on all Chinese people to pull yourselves up, joining the 10 million Chinese compatriots who have awakened, and melting into the spiritual awakening, the grand tide that dares to break away from the CCP. Let's put our hands together to greet a new China, without killing, without blood, without persecution, that is democratic and prosperous."

Coordinator of Amnesty International Seattle Branch Laura Neuchterlein: Call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong

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Coordinator of Amnesty International Seattle Branch Laura Neuchterlein

Laura Neuchterlein, coordinator of Amnesty International Seattle Branch, gave a speech. "Amnesty International calls for an investigation of the atrocities of harvesting Falun Gong practitioners' organs and cremating their bodies to destroy the evidence in the CCP's concentration camps and forced labor camps, and calls for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.

"Here I'd like to talk about the attitude of Amnesty International regarding the human rights abuses in China. Since 1961, Amnesty International has paid attention to the human rights issue. For a long time, the CCP has refused to grant people freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of belief. The number of prisoners that the CCP detained and has executed exceeds the rest of the world's total. It is commonplace that the CCP tortures prisoners, which often results in their death. The CCP adopts the persecution policy against the people."

Falun Gong practitioner Li Bin: Investigation of the truth is a must for the world's people

Falun Gong practitioner Li Bin who has suffered persecution in mainland China used her personal experience to condemn the CCP's persecution. Since July 20, 1999, the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners has never lessened. The recent revelation of the CCP's concentration camps is even more beyond people's imagination.

Li Bin said, "I once suffered devastating torture in the mainland for practicing Falun Gong. I was once sent to a mental hospital and a forced labor camp. Spiritual torment almost put me on the brink of collapse. Five of my acquaintances were subjected to persecution and all have died as a result of the persecution.

"Many of my friends have been sentenced to forced labor camp and prison, some have been fired from their jobs, some were threatened and harassed by the police, and countless have been sent to brainwashing classes.

"Regarding the CCP's atrocities of harvesting Falun Gong practitioners' organs and selling them for profit and then cremating their bodies to destroy the evidence in concentration camps, I hope the international community can assist the CIPFG in conducting investigations, because this is not only the concern of the Chinese people but that of the whole world."