California, USA: Dignitaries Voice Their Support at Events Marking 24 Years of Practitioners Resisting the Persecution of Falun Dafa

(Minghui.org) This year marks the 24^th anniversary of Falun Dafa practitioners’ peaceful efforts to resist and expose the persecution in China. On July 15, 2023, practitioners in the San Francisco Bay area held a rally and march to condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its ongoing suppression. A member of the US House of Representatives and a city councilor sent letters of support. 

Falun Dafa exercises at the Ferry Building on July 15.

March in San Francisco informs people about 24-year-long persecution in China.

Mr. Yu, former lecturer at a university in China, spoke at the rally.

Practitioners started the day’s activities with exercises in front of the Ferry Building at 8 a.m. Many tourists were drawn to the peaceful movements and wanted to know more about Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong). Several spectators joined in and learned the exercise movements

At 10:30 a.m. practitioners held a rally in front of the Ferry Building to condemn the CCP’s ongoing persecution.

Congressman Calls on the CCP to Release All Detained Practitioners

Practitioner Zhao Chen read a letter from Congressman Kevin Kiley at the rally.

Congressman Kevin Kiley wrote in his letter dated July 13 that he was concerned about Falun Dafa practitioner Ms. Meng Zhaohong’s arrest. He said that Ms. Meng, the mother of one of his constituents, was incarcerated. He urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to raise the matter with the US Ambassador to China and ask that the CCP release Ms. Meng at once and unconditionally.

Congressman Kiley said Meng Zhaohong was illegally detained and being made to do forced labor while in detention. She was also shocked with electric batons, beaten, and force-fed. One of her fingers was fractured.

He said the international community has already widely censured China for its brutal acts and that it is important to let people know and oppose these violations against human rights. He urged the US Secretary of State to contact China and ask them to immediately release Meng Zhaohong and Yuan Xiuhua, another Falun Dafa practitioner.

Practitioner Li Ding reads Richmond City Council member Soheila Bana’s letter of support at the rally.

Richmond City Council member Soheila Bana also sent a letter of support. She noted that the CCP suppresses practitioners. “I support the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners. I stand in solidarity with all those gathering at the rally held in San Francisco on July 15 to protest the 24-year-long persecution endured by Falun Gong practitioners.

“The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong is a grave violation of fundamental human rights, including freedom of belief, expression, and association. The reports of arbitrary arrests, detention, torture, and forced labor are deeply troubling and demand our immediate attention and action.”

She said it is our responsibility to expose the CCP’s atrocities and help Falun Gong practitioners regain their freedom. She said the rally sends a strong message to the international community that we cannot condone any act that severely violates human rights and that we must hold those who torture Falun Gong practitioners accountable.

Daughter of Persecuted Practitioner Calls for Her Release

Practitioner Ding Yue calls on the CCP to release her mother Meng Zhaohong.

In her speech, Ding Yue called on the CCP to release her mother Meng Zhaohong.

Ding Yue said her mother was arrested on May 9, 2023, while telling people about Falun Dafa at a farmers market in Qinglong County, Hebei Province. She was slapped in the face over 20 times during the interrogation. The authorities tried to send her to prison, but a pre-admittance physical revealed that she had health problems, including a lung problem, swollen lymph nodes, and heart disease. The prison refused to take her, so the police locked her up illegally in an underground facility where they continued to torment her.

She said, “My mother is just one of thousands of victims. In the past, she was sent to labor camps twice and sent to prison once because of her faith in Falun Gong and because she told people the facts about the persecution. She was detained for more than eight years in total. She was shocked with electric batons, shamed, and force-fed salt water, which led to severe internal bleeding. She was tied to a chair and viciously beaten as well as subjected to other unimaginable torture while in detention.

“Today, I call on everyone to see through the CCP and recognize its evil nature. Stand up to oppose it. Please help spread the truth about the persecution. The CCP is afraid of people learning the truth. Only when more people realize the truth can this persecution end.”

Liu Zhitong Calls for the Release of Her Mother 

Practitioner Liu Zhitong calls for the release of her mother Kong Qingping.

In her speech, Falun Dafa practitioner Liu Zhitong said her mother Kong Qingping was arrested on November 22, 2022. She has been detained in the Yaojia Detention Center in Dalian City and denied visits from her family ever since. Ms. Liu called on people to lend a hand to help rescue her mother.

She said her mother started having high fevers frequently in early 2004. Medical treatments were useless and the hospital said she had blood poisoning. Her mother began to practice Falun Gong after hearing it was good for healing and fitness. In less than a month, she recovered completely. Her other ailments such as migraine headaches, high eye pressure, gynecological diseases, and liver problems also disappeared.

She said that, since her mother’s arrest, she has been so worried she has not been able to eat or sleep properly. “I hope more people can become aware of the brutal persecution and condemn the CCP for its violent acts.”

Chief Editor of the Epoch Times San Francisco Office: “More and more people are awakening”

Su Nan, chief editor of the San Francisco Epoch Times office, spoke at the rally.

Su Nan, chief editor of the Epoch Times San Francisco office, said in his speech that the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong has gone on for 24 years. Practitioners have persisted in clarifying the facts and telling people about the evil nature of the regime. Many people in San Francisco have received information given out by practitioners.

“Now, more and more people are beginning to wake up. In human history, no political power can compare with the evil CCP. Western countries are now starting to be aware of this problem. Recently, the US Circuit Court ruled that Falun Gong practitioners’ lawsuit against tech company Cisco for assisting the CCP in tracking and persecuting Falun Gong practitioners can proceed. This is a good sign, it shows that American society and the US legal system are starting to be aware of what the CCP has done in the past, including its infiltration into US society. International society needs to step forward and help stop the persecution of Falun Gong.”

Practitioner Calls for an End to the Persecution

Falun Gong practitioner Wang Longbiao (left) spoke at the rally.

Wang Longbiao began to practice Falun Gong in 1998 with his parents when he was seven years old. After the persecution began, his father was arrested and beaten for practicing. The police even broke into his parents’ home and confiscated Falun Gong books, and tape recordings.

One day, a police car came to his house because the message “Falun Dafa is good, Assimilate to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” was posted on the door. Five people got out of the car to arrest his father, but they took Wang Longbiao away instead when they couldn’t find his father. Wang was subjected to two years of forced labor when he refused to slander Falun Gong.

Wang Longbiao was not given enough to eat in the labor camp. He was forced to work long hours and his weight plummeted. The guards even instigated prisoners to beat and swear at him. After he was released, he left home and went from place to place to avoid further persecution. He eventually moved to the U.S.

He said, “I call on the CCP to release all detained practitioners at once and stop the persecution.”

Member of Kuomintang US: “All the bad things are done by the CCP”

Yang Haiping, a member of the Kuomintang US, said all the bad things are done by the CCP.

Yang Haiping, a member of the Kuomintang US, said in his speech that all the problems in China today are single-handedly caused by the CCP, that “all the bad things,” including the persecution of Falun Gong and Christians, are done by the CCP.

He said, “The CCP has been persecuting Falun Gong for 24 years, using over 100 kinds of torture, including beatings, electric shocks, fire, freezing, shackling and hanging up, and even organ harvesting. To date, these crimes are still taking place. It is outrageous.

“If the CCP is not eliminated, Taiwan will never be left in peace, Hong Kong will never regain its glory, and the persecution of Falun Gong will never end. Bringing down the CCP is the only hope to resolve all problems in China.”

So Many People Practice Falun Gong!

Many people from China who were either holidaying or on business trips saw the day’s activities and wanted to know more about Falun Gong. Several Chinese who live in the U.S. came to show their support as well. Many said, “You have done a great job!” and “The CCP is afraid of Falun Gong.”

Mr. Huang, a young man from Fujian who was in San Francisco on business, stood watching curiously when he saw practitioners doing the exercises. He asked for information on the practice. He said, “I heard of Falun Gong when I was in China and have often seen practitioners giving out materials overseas. I was shocked to see so many practitioners here today. It turns out many people practice this.”

What Can I Do For You?

San Jose resident Brittany Moss and her husband Cody said they support practitioners in resisting the persecution.

Brittany Moss and her husband Cody Moss live in San Jose. They came to San Francisco to avoid the heat. When Brittany learned that practitioners have been oppressed for 24 years, tears came to her eyes. She said, “I am sorry. I am so sad to hear this. I could not help crying. Especially organ harvesting. This is terrible! Is there anything I can do for you?”

Cody said, “They are enduring such brutal persecution in China. It is shocking. I really don’t know what to say. The CCP is wrong in treating its people like this. People should have freedom of belief, this is a basic human right. In particular, organ harvesting—this is frightening. We are so fortunate to be living in a free land.”

Brittany agreed with the principles taught by Falun Gong and said, “I absolutely agree with Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. These three words are important.”

Before leaving, she told practitioners, “I thank you for everything you have done. You are going through an unprecedented persecution, yet you don’t forget to step forward to oppose this suppression and tell us what is happening in China.”

The couple and their parents signed the petition to call for an end to the atrocities.

Everyone Should Know about This and Support Falun Gong

Christine said everyone should know the truth and support Falun Gong.

Christine, who works near Chinatown, said she knew about Falun Gong and often saw practitioners at Portsmouth Square. She said, “It is sad to hear about the persecution of Falun Gong. We cannot be selfish and do things that harm the world.

“We are all one, so persecuting an individual is the same as persecuting everyone. This will affect several generations. It is crucial for the world to stop this persecution. Everyone should know about this and support Falun Gong.”