Virginia: Candidates for Congress Address China’s Transnational Suppression

(Minghui.org) The Asian Community Service Center is a nonprofit organization established in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The organization held a “Meet-and-Greet” event with candidates for the U.S. Congress and the Virginia House of Delegates on June 21, 2025. The event promotes understanding and interaction between candidates and members of the local Asian community.

Falun Dafa practitioners attended the event and told attendees about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) escalated transnational suppression in the United States. Candidates from both political parties said that they would pay close attention to the issue.

Exposing the CCP’s Infiltration

Due to the sudden passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly, Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia announced that a special election will take place on September 9, 2025 and a primary election will be held on June 28. Five congressional candidates on the primary ballot attended the Meet-and-Greet, along with three state-level candidates.

Jim Giragosian, host of the event, welcomed attendees and introduced Falun Dafa: a spiritual practice with five sets of gentle exercises that follows the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Falun Dafa was once widely practiced in China. However, since 1999, the CCP began a nationwide crackdown on Falun Dafa and persecutes practitioners. The CCP’s heinous acts have spread to the United States, including secret Chinese agents harassing Falun Dafa practitioners, issuing threats and vandalizing personal property. The CCP also uses Falun Dafa practitioners in China as slave labor to make goods that are sold in American stores.

Mark Yang, a researcher at Falun Dafa Information Center, speaks at the event.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises for the candidates.

Mark Yang, a researcher at the Falun Dafa Information Center, explained the CCP’s transnational suppression of Falun Dafa practitioners outside of China. He said that practitioners were beaten and harassed on the streets. CCP secret agents invaded practitioners’ homes to rob them and commit violence. The CCP’s propaganda also spread to university campuses, affecting the freedom of speech and academic freedom.

Mark also said that Falun Dafa practitioners established Shen Yun, a performing arts company which seeks to revive China’s traditional culture and expose the CCP’s persecution. Shen Yun has been a main target in the CCP’s persecution for many years. The CCP tried to interfere with Shen Yun more than 130 times. It uses tactics like pressuring theaters to cancel Shen Yun performances, threatens Shen Yun artists, and issues bomb threats. Mark called for the candidates to be alert to the CCP’s infiltration in the U.S. and protect people and freedom of religion on American soil.

US Congressional Candidate: Object to the CCP’s Suppression and Take Action

Former FBI agent Stewart Whitson, a Republican candidate for congress, is also the Senior Director of Federal Affairs at the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA).

He said that it is unacceptable that CCP is interfering with American politics and harassing Americans. He promised to fully support legislation and suggested imposing financial sanctions on those who abuse litigation to deter recurrence.

Dan Lee is a Democratic candidate for congress and a descendant of South Korean immigrants. He said that the CCP’s suppression not only exists in China, but spread all over the world and that the United States must take action. Dan said, “The CCP is an evil tyrant and we should fight back against it.”

Republican congressional candidate Mike Van Meter said he would never accept financial support from the CCP or any groups connected with it. He would also hold members of Congress accountable if they accepted funds from the CCP. “The CCP’s infiltration is greater than what we think,” he said. He promised to investigate the CCP’s persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in the United States.

The Importance of Defending Religious Freedom and Protecting American Values

Delegate Vivian Watts is running for reelection as a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates, where she has served for many years. She is also the chair of the Virginia House Finance Committee. She has always been supportive of local Falun Dafa practitioners in defending their freedom of belief. She stated that 90% of the of the legal basis in the United States for lawsuits against the CCP is state law. Most issues, especially civil lawsuits, are conducted at the state level. She promised that Falun Dafa practitioners’ voices will be heard at the state level.

Kristin Hoffman, a Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Representatives, said, “As a mother who had been to China, I genuinely realize how important freedom of speech and religion is.” America was founded by people who escaped religious persecution and pursued economic freedom. She said that everyone has a responsibility to continue to fight for these freedoms. This is also one of the reasons why America is great.

Ed McGovern, another Republican candidate running for the House of Delegates in Virginia’s 18th District, said that regarding the legal battle against the CCP, an effective response requires critical thinking and the ability to persevere.