Washington D.C.: Grand Rally Calls for End to 24-Year-Long Persecution in China

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in the United States gathered at the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol on July 20, 2023 for a large rally, calling to stop the suppression of their faith launched by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) 24 years ago.

Falun Gong practitioners gathered at the National Mall on July 20, 2023, calling for an end to the 24-year-long persecution in China.

Tweet from Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State

Matthew Miller, the U.S. Department of State spokesperson, tweeted on the same day that “Today, we recognize 24 years since the People’s Republic of China launched a campaign of repression, inside and outside its borders, against Falun Gong and its millions of practitioners, advocates, and human rights defenders. We stand in solidarity with this community.”

During a news briefing in the Department of State on the same day, Miller mentioned sanctions against several individuals responsible for the persecution. “I think we’ve made our position clear on this,” he said. “We’ve imposed a number of measures already. It’s an issue that remains of concern for us.”

Before the large rally at the National Mall, many members of the U.S. Congress sent proclamations, letters, and video messages to show their support for Falun Gong practitioners.

Members of U.S. Congress who voiced their support of Falun Gong practitioners at the 24th anniversary of the persecution.First row (from left to right): Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Todd YoungSecond row (from left to right): Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Sam Graves, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Gerry ConnollyThird row (from left to right): Rep. Bill Pascrell, Rep. Donald Norcross, Rep. French Hill, Rep. Young KimFourth row (from left to right): Rep. Thomas P. Tiffany, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

CECC: Release Detained Falun Gong Practitioners

Tweet from CECC on July 20

Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) issued a tweet on the same day. “For the past 24 years, #FalunGong practitioners have suffered the most appalling human rights abuses imaginable – abuses that are ongoing. FLG practitioner must be released and PRC officials held accountable for their crimes, including by @UNHumanRights, say @CECCgov Chairs,” wrote chair Representative Chris Smith and co-chair Senator Jeff Merkley.

In another tweet, CECC urged “the PRC government to unconditionally release #XuNa, #DengCuiping, #ZhouDeyong and all detained #FalunGong practitioners, including cases found in the @CECCgov’s searchable Political Prisoner Database.”

Created by the China Relations Act of 2000, CECC monitors human rights and developments of rule of law in China. The commission also provides annual reports to the U.S. President and Congress.

Rep. Smith also sponsored H.R.1154 - Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 in February 2023 that “imposes sanctions on persons (individuals and entities) involved in forced organ trafficking and authorizes the Department of State to revoke the passports of individuals convicted of certain crimes related to organ trafficking.” The House of Representatives passed the bill overwhelmingly on March 27, 2023.

Piero Tozzi

Piero Tozzi, staff director of CECC and senior policy advisor to Rep. Smith, spoke at the rally in support of the practitioners.

USCIRF: The U.S. Is Taking Action

Abraham Cooper, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

Abraham Cooper, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), condemned the systematic and brutal suppression of Falun Gong by the CCP.

“In our most recent 2023 annual report, we highlighted the government’s continued harassment, detention, imprisonment, and torture of Falun Gong practitioners in China,” he said. “Tragically, some practitioners died in custody due to abuses. USCIRF is also concerned about ongoing reports of forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners, a horrific practice that has also reportedly affected Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and house church Christians.”

The Chinese communist government has extended its religious suppression overseas. The transnational repression activities have targeted Falun Gong practitioners in the United States, as the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation recently revealed. Mr. Cooper is pleased to see that U.S. authorities are moving to charge and bring to justice those parties acting on behalf of the Chinese government to suppress the Falun Gong and other Chinese dissidents on U.S. soil.

“USCIRF will continue to urge the U.S. government to take more consequential actions to hold the Chinese government and its agents accountable for religious freedom abuses in China and in the United States,” Cooper continued. “Moreover, the U.S. government must continue to pursue a multilateral approach, working together with like-minded international partners to expose the CCP’s abuses and to use all tools at their disposal to counter these abuses, including by imposing targeted sanctions against Chinese officials and entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations.”

In the end, he thanked Falun Gong practitioners for the courage and consistent effort. “USCIRF will continue to work with our civil society partners as we look forward together to a day when the Falun Gong community, along with believers of all faiths and traditions in China, can worship freely, safely, and in peace,” he added.

Hudson Institute: The Importance of Perseverance

Nina Shea, a senior fellow and Director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute

Nina Shea, Director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, also commended Falun Gong practitioners for their courage. “Courageous in facing what I believe is a genocide in China by the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party. The hallmark of this genocide of course is forced organ harvesting,” she explained.

There is much evidence surrounding this. Shea said the former CCP leader Jiang Zemin wanted to eliminate Falun Gong and created the dreadful 610 Office structure to carry it out. In addition, the CCP has extended the persecution overseas. “...trans-national repression by the Chinese Communist Party on American soil, that curtail the rights of religious freedom and freedom of speech for American citizens and American residents. This must stop,” she added.

“I also want to say that I admire Falun Gong. I admire it for your resilience. Your standing up today is an act of courage and an act of resilience,” Shea remarked. “Thank you so much for inspiring us all in the free world, about how you can overcome this horrific religious persecution.”

ADF International: More Measures from the U.S. Congress

Sean Nelson, Legal Counsel for Global Religious Freedom with ADF International

“For decades, the communist regime in China has targeted the Falun Gong community for their beliefs and practices,” Sean Nelson, Legal Counsel for Global Religious Freedom with ADF International, said at the rally. “A recent report puts the total number of Falun Gong members who have died because of torture or abuse at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party at over 5,000. Just since last year, over 180 Falun Gong practitioners have died from persecution. And untold numbers have been the victims of the shocking practice of forced organ harvesting.”

He said the CCP is in a war against faith. “That is why it is so heartening and important that you all continue to speak out. You are a voice not only for the Falun Gong community, but for all religious and belief minority communities being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party,” Nelson added. “And right now, Congress should add its voice in support of you. The House of Representatives has already passed the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023, and the Senate should follow that and quickly do the same.”

Freedom House: The Atrocity Continues

Sarah Cook, Senior Advisor at Freedom House

Sarah Cook, Senior Advisor at Freedom House, said, “Twenty-four years after former CCP leader Jiang Zemin arbitrarily launched a campaign to wipe out the beliefs of tens of millions of Chinese citizens, the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners continues even after his death last year.”

“We call on the U.S. government, businesses, and all those listening to do all they can to stand with the people of China, to not succumb to the CCP’s well-funded pressure to remain silent, to bring accountability to those perpetrating abuses, and to stand with all those defending and upholding rights in China, so that we can ultimately bring freedom to Falun Gong and all of the people in China,” she added.

Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation: Opposing the CCP

Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, the President of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

“The systematic persecution of people of faith has long been a staple of the Chinese Communist Party. Sadly, for the past 24 years, the Falun Gong movement has been a tragic thread in the tapestry of the CCP’s oppression and persecution,” said Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, the President of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. “As the Chinese Communist Party threatens this most sacred right, the right to religious freedom, it is critical that we all condemn its heinous acts.”

He reiterated commitment from The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. “We will continue to raise our voices against the CCP’s crimes and demand that human rights and justice for all the victims of the CCP, especially the practitioners of Falun Gong,” Bremberg said.

Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice: In the Face of Unbearable Persecution

Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice

“I cannot tell you how inspiring it is to stand here and see this sea of yellow. Your beautiful banners, and above all your determined, faithful, kind, intelligent, wonderful faces,” said Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. “You are an inspiration to every single one of us, and I thank you for being people of faith, people of enormous bravery, and very importantly, a community that in the face of unbearable persecution, has made the decision not to give in, not to give up, but to stand firm and strong and tall.”

“Now we know that no community has suffered as much as the Falun Gong community in China. I hoped that every single one of you hoped that we would not be meeting again year after year because we believed that this horrific and criminal targeting of innocent Falun Gong practitioners would have to end,” she continued. “But sadly, it has not. And the reality, the tragic truth of what is going on in China calls on each of us, each year, to renew our commitment to fighting for justice and fighting against the grave evil represented by the Communist Party of China.”

Family Research Council: Not Remaining Silent

Arielle Del Turco, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at Family Research Council

“We’re gathered here to call attention to the decades of persecution that have already taken place against the Falun Gong. And even more importantly, to demand an end to that ongoing, horrific persecution,” said Arielle Del Turco, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at Family Research Council.

The CCP has made clear that it does not respect any individual’s right to live according to the dictates of their conscience. “Many people call the Chinese government a competitor of the United States. In reality, it is the biggest threat to human rights in the world today,” she explained.

“Human rights are inherent - they are not granted by any government, nor can they rightly be taken away by any government. And despite its political strength, the CCP does not have the authority to erase them. No one, anywhere should be persecuted for their beliefs,” she added.

“The rest of the world cannot continue watching these abuses in silence. Today, we demand religious freedom in China for Falun Gong practitioners and for all people - and we demand that the CCP be held accountable for its actions,” she said.

Christian Freedom International: Your Efforts Are Making a Huge Difference

Wendy Wright, President for Christian Freedom International

“My first personal introduction to Falun Gong was nearly 20 years ago as I was walking along the mall and I saw a demonstration just like this,” said Wendy Wright, President for Christian Freedom International. “This is the first time where I witnessed and saw the gentle, persistent nature of those involved with Falun Gong in exposing the evils of the Chinese Communist Party.

“Your efforts are making a huge difference. Your gentle persistent witness is critical to opposing the evil of the Chinese Communist Party. Your witness, your speaking out, your exposing of the evil, encourages government leaders to act,” Wright continued. “You’re awakening citizens, you’re pressuring corporations to not be linked with the communist Chinese. You are pricking the consciences of people.”

Henry Jackson Society: Falun Gong Practitioners Deserve Attention from Policymakers

Darren Spinck, Associate Fellow from The Henry Jackson Society

Darren Spinck, Associate Fellow from The Henry Jackson Society, said Falun Gong practitioners deserve attention from our policymakers for the plight they have faced. Since the CCP crackdown began on the Falun Gong in 1999, it is estimated that millions have been detained or imprisoned and a large number had been killed from organ harvesting, he said.

“It is not only insidious... but an attempt to supplant the freedoms afforded through the U.S. Constitution, including freedom of religion, speech, or assembly,” he added.

“In closing, policymakers should consider remedies to end the persecution of the Falun Gong, including capital market restrictions on outbound investment from the U.S. to China in sectors in which some investment from U.S. pension funds or other U.S. financial instruments may be used to worsen Falun Gong persecution,” Spinck summarized. “U.S. funds cannot be allowed to fuel the CCP and its authoritarian policies toward religion.”

Institute on Religion and Democracy: Justice Will Prevail

Faith McDonnell, director of Religious Liberty Program at the Institute on Religion and Democracy.

Faith McDonnell, director of Religious Liberty Program at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, praised Falun Gong practitioners for their faith, courage, and strength.

She said practitioners would not yield and their efforts are impactful and influential. She said the light would dispel darkness. McDonnell said she would stand with Falun Gong practitioners since the CCP’s viciousness cannot prevail.

Testimony of a Practitioner

Lydia Wang talking about her mother’s story

Lydia Wang was the last speaker before the march. She and her three siblings began to practice Falun Gong in 1996. The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and exercises brought her family harmony and health.

But everything changed after the CCP launched the persecution 24 years ago. Because of her belief, Wang’s mother Liu Aihua was arrested and detained over 10 times. She spent more than 10 years in prison for just upholding her faith.

On March 10, 2023, Liu was again sentenced to a four-year term. This was simply because she read Falun Gong books and told others about the practice.

“I do not know when this persecution will end. I do not know if I can see my mother again. I know many of you in the audience have similar experiences as my family,” Wang said. “I hope people in China and around the world will be able to hear our stories, understand what the Chinese government is doing to its people, and choose to stand on the right side of history.”