July 17, 2001

(Tuesday, July 17, 2001) -- Last week's selection of Beijing as the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics could increase pressure on the Chinese government to curb persecution of people who practice Falun Gong, say area participants in the spiritual movement.

Local practitioners are already trying to draw more attention to the way China treats its people.

A small group will join hundreds of people on Thursday in Washington, D.C., for a march.

The group plans to leave from Perinton Park between noon and 1 p.m. Wednesday and is asking area residents to join it on the first two miles of their journey -- commemorating the two years since China outlawed the practice.

The government has derided Falun Gong as a [Jiang Zemin government's slanderous word omitted] and detained practitioners, often in labor camps and mental hospitals, according to news reports and Amnesty International. Practitioners here say that Falun Gong is not a [Jiang Zemin government's slanderous word omitted] or even a religion, but a spiritual way of living.

"We only hear one-sided stories [in China]. We're misled by the [Jiang Zemin] government regarding the Falun Gong," said Weidong Huang of Fairport. "American people do not know about the persecution."

In 1992, founder Li Hongzhi began teaching Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa. [...] It features a series of slow movement exercises and meditations that followers believe heighten well-being, spirituality and moral awareness. About a dozen practitioners here meet twice a week for the exercises and discussions of the teachings of Li. Falun Gong has spread rapidly, in more than 30 countries and to more than 100 million practitioners.

In China, more than 250 people who practiced Falun Gong have died in police custody, the Falun Dafa Information Center reports. Amnesty International put the death toll at 93 in its 2001 annual report.

"Things are getting very, very severe," said Helen Chou of Penfield, who plans to drive to D.C.

The Chinese government has denied abuse allegations, saying that Falun Gong adherents committed suicide while in custody.

Huang, a researcher for Eastman Kodak Co., has lived in the United States for 17 years. His sister, Louise, recently emigrated from China after losing her job and spending 40 days in detainment on charges related to having lunch with other Falun Gong practitioners, said Huang.

Louise Huang, who now lives with her brother and sister-in-law in Fairport, began walking July 3 from New York City to Washington with other Falun Gong supporters.