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Washington State: Two Cities Issue Proclamations in Celebration of Falun Dafa Day

July 7, 2021

(Minghui.org) Snoqualmie and Spokane, two cities in Washington state, issued proclamations to celebrate Falun Dafa Day. Mayor Matthew R. Larson of the City of Snoqualmie proclaimed July 7, 2021, as Falun Dafa Day in the city. Mayor Nadine Woodward of the City of Spokane proclaimed July 20, 2021, as Falun Dafa Day. 

Proclamation from Mayor Matthew R. Larson of the City of Snoqualmie

The proclamation reads, “Whereas, Falun Dafa is an ancient Chinese meditation practice based on the core principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance;

“Whereas, more than 100 million people in more than 100 countries practice Falun Dafa to deal with stress and anxiety through a set of tranquil exercises;

“Whereas, people who practice Falun Dafa have experienced health benefits and have led more peaceful lives.” 

Proclamation from Mayor Nadine Woodward of the City of Spokane 

Mayor Nadine's proclamation reads, “Anyone is welcome to learn Falun Dafa because its universal principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” transcend cultural, social, economic and national boundaries, and the great compassion and forbearance demonstrated by Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the hearts of people all over the world.

“Although Falun Dafa practitioners have been persecuted in China for their belief since 1999, there are many local practitioners, including in the City of Spokane, that welcome all individuals to experience this peaceful practice.”

Background

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was introduced to the public in 1992. Nearly 100 million people across China were soon practicing Falun Dafa after experiencing improvements in their health and character. Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang's personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.