Orange County, New York: Rally to Expose Chinese Communist Party’s 24-Year-Long Persecution Receives Support From Local Official and Residents

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, practitioners gathered in Goshen, New York, on Saturday, July 22, 2023 and held a peaceful rally to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 24 years of persecution. Practitioners described the CCP’s ruthless persecution and called on people to see the true nature of the CCP. Karl Brabenec, New York State Assemblyman from the 98th District, sent a video message to show his support for Falun Dafa practitioners.

Practitioners held a rally in Goshen, New York, to condemn the CCP’s 24-year-long persecution.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises

Practitioners started off the event by demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises. They held banners in both English and Chinese that read, “Stop The Persecution of Falun Gong In China” and “Stop Murdering for Organs.” Local people stopped to listen to the rally’s speakers and passing vehicles honked their horns to show their support.

New York State Assemblyman: “Non-violent resistance serves as inspiration to us all.”

Karl Brabenec, New York State Assemblyman from the 98th District, sent a video message to show his support for Falun Dafa practitioners and his profound sense of solidarity and empathy with them.

New York State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec

“As a descendant of a family who fled the clutches of communist oppression in the late 1940s from the former Czechoslovakia to seek freedom in the United States, I understand the gravity of your struggle on a personal level. Like my family, the practitioners of Falun Gong, have faced unimaginable challenges. Under a repressive regime that seeks to suppress their fundamental human rights and freedom of belief, their peaceful pursuit of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance has been met with ruthless persecution, reminiscent of the darkest days of communism,” Mr. Brabenec said.

“In the spirit of liberty and justice, we must raise our voices to support Falun Gong practitioners in their quest for religious freedom and human rights. Their unwavering commitment to non-violent resistance serves as inspiration to us all, demonstrating the strength of human spirit in face of adversity,” he said.

Orange County Falun Dafa Association Representative: Firmly Believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and Resist the Persecution

Liam O’Neill, a coordinator of the Falun Dafa Association of Orange County, said that the persecution of Falun Dafa has permeated everything in China. Practitioners' who remain steadfast in their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance have overcome the persecution and have shown people hope. The CCP's persecution is actually leading to the Party's destruction.

Mr. O’Neill said he enjoyed running long distances when he was younger, but after he was injured in a car accident he was unable to run. He said that it was a blessing in disguise, because he encountered Falun Dafa around that time and embarked on his cultivation path. He hopes his heartfelt experience will help others understand what Falun Dafa is.

Falun Dafa Information Center Representative: The Persecution Is a Fail

Falun Dafa Information Center representative Ben Maloney

Ben Maloney, a representative from the Falun Dafa Information Center, addressed the rally and said, “A representative from The General Administration of Sport of China said in a interview during the U.S. News & World Report on February 14, 1999, that over 100 million people practiced Falun Dafa in China. Falun Dafa practitioners helped the National Healthcare Security Administration save a great deal of medical expenses. The Chinese government even invited Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, to teach the practice at the Chinese Embassy in France.”

Mr. Maloney said four factors contributed to the persecution: The popularity of Falun Dafa; the independence of its adherents from any Party control; the practice’s values which stood opposite to communist ideologies; and the jealousy and political motivations of then-leader Jiang Zemin.

Mr. Maloney said the CCP has already exhausted every means to suppress Falun Dafa, and the persecution is doomed to fail. Falun Dafa has only brought more people, both in and outside of China, healthier bodies, hope and a peace of mind. People and governments in the international community are condemning the CCP and are imposing sanctions on Chinese officials.

Mount Hope Chinese Association Spokesperson: “Wake Up to the CCP Threat” Seminar Resonates With The Community

Chris Cheng, Mount Hope Chinese Association spokesperson

Mount Hope Chinese Association spokesperson Chris Cheng said at the rally that it’s important to share information about the CCP in local communities such as Goshen, because the regime’s influence hits close to home. Mr. Cheng cited the harassment of Shen Yun artists, a death threat received by one of the organizers of the association, and the use of hackers to collect U.S. citizen's private information.

“In the past 12 months, the association has hosted four “Wake Up to the CCP Threat” seminars and one “End CCP” rally and car parade. These activities have resonated with the community and people are actively participating.

Mr. Cheng said that County Executive Steve Neuhaus mentioned at one of the seminars that a cyberattack allegedly out of mainland China targeted one of the largest health care providers in Orange County and held its system hostage.

The Persecution Continues

Lydia Wang's father was persecuted to death in China

Lydia Wang, a Falun Dafa practitioner, said her father, Wang Guanghui, was repeatedly detained and tortured, both physically and mentally, which eventually led to his death in September 2009. Earlier this year, Wang’s mother was illegally arrested for the 11th time in China and received a four-year prison sentence.

Ms. Wang and her older sister were harassed and threatened multiple times. Her family was targeted because her younger brother, Steven Wang, is a principal dancer for Shen Yun Performing Arts. Shen Yun is an acclaimed performing arts company that is frequently targeted by the CCP because it showcases China's ancient culture including spiritual values, which are not the CCP’s ideology of atheism.

Ms. Wang said she was questioned and brought to a police station when her oldest daughter was only three months old. Police demanded she provide information about her brother and threatened to send her to prison. Ms. Wang refused to give them any information and had no choice but to flee to the United States. Her husband, who was pressured by the CCP, forced her to sign divorce papers.

Grace Chen, a high school student in New York

Grace Chen, a high school student in New York, said that both her parents were detained in China due to their faith, Falun Dafa. Her father and mother, Mr. Chen Yang and Ms. Cao Zhimin, were illegally arrested and then sentenced in October 2020. Ms. Chen was only 16 years old at the time and was studying abroad. She called on the United States government and its people to give a helping hand to stop the CCP’s 24 year long persecution of Falun Dafa.

Local Resident: “Our country needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

Phillip Spannagel said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very good principles.”

Phillip Spannagel drove by the rally and stopped by to learn more about Falun Dafa. “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are very good principles. Our country needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” he said. Mr. Spannagel explained that he is a Christian and said, “The communist regime feels its power is threatened, that’s why it persecutes everyone. I hope Falun Dafa practitioners persist, because this requires a lot of courage.

“The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance will make you stronger. Evil is always depicted as darkness, whereas 'Truthfulness' is depicted as brightness. When you turn on the lights, darkness is no longer there. Darkness has to escape from the brightness. I hope we can bring brightness into the world, just like what practitioners are doing here.”

Local resident Al Beers said, “I believe very much in resisting the CCP. Our country needs to have a more thorough and proactive solution. What will happen when the CCP no longer exists? What will the world become without the CCP? I think it will become a beautiful world.”