(Clearwisdom.net June 8) On June 7, 2003, nearly 200 Falun Gong practitioners from the Bay Area held a rally and parade in San Francisco to support the lawsuit against Jiang, and to urgently rescue American citizen and Falun Gong practitioner Charles Li, who is being imprisoned and abused in China. The practitioners also raised awareness about the persecution going on in China.
At 9:00 a.m., the practitioners came to the square in front of San Francisco City Hall to join the global sending righteous thoughts, and then held group practice on the lawn. After the exercises, the practitioners held a rally at the nearby Union Square. Western practitioner Brad and Charles Li's fiancée Ms. Yeong-ching Foo listed all kinds of severe persecution directed by Jiang during the past four years. They also presented information about Charles Li, who was arrested upon arriving at the airport on his trip back to China to visit his parents in January, and then illegally sentenced to three years of imprisonment and force-fed while on a recent hunger strike. They called upon people to extend a helping hand to put an end to this persecution.
At 1:00 p.m., the parade started from Union Square, passing through downtown and finally reaching "Garden Corner" in Chinatown. The Chinese people, especially those residing in Chinatown, have been deeply influenced by the Chinese government's slanderous propaganda, and it is urgent to let them learn about the truth.
San Francisco Falun Gong Spokesperson Zeng Yong said to the overseas Chinese at the Garden Corner Square in Chinatown, "It's been almost four years since the Chinese government began the persecution of Falun Gong. The practitioners have been persistently coming here in the past few years to clarify the truth about Falun Gong to people in San Francisco and everywhere else in a peaceful, compassionate and rational manner. Because a handful of people in the Chinese government manipulated China's state media and organizations stationed abroad to concoct lies and spread slanderous propaganda, many overseas Chinese have misunderstood us, and even been hostile to us. However, we do not seek any self-interest, and we spend our own time driving from Bay Area or even far away places, only to reiterate our sincerity and tell you about Falun Gong's innocence. We hope everybody can distinguish between right and wrong and not be deceived by lies. We believe that we will ultimately be understood and everyone will learn about the truth in the end."
Mr. Zeng also said, "Today we are here to inform everyone about the lawsuit against Jiang and '610 Office,' and the truth about Falun Gong. We hope that everyone has a beacon of light in your heart that can discern right from wrong, and can see the truth through dense haze. It is very important for every one of us and for our countries. After enduring the persecution that has lasted for four years, the truth of Falun Gong is right in front of your eyes."
San Francisco resident and Falun Gong practitioners Hu Zhihua and Lu Zhonghua related the ordeal of their family members in China who were arrested, tortured and illegally sentenced to prison. They called upon people to follow their conscience to help stop the persecution.
That day, various truth-clarifying banners and display boards were placed on the Garden Corner Square. A stream of people asked for and received truth-clarifying information and materials. The banners, reading, "Suing Jiang for Genocide," "Immediately release Charles Li," and "Stop Jiang from murdering Falun Gong practitioners" were prominently displayed.
We called upon people with a sense of justice around the world to join together to bring Jiang, the mastermind of the brutal persecution, to justice, and to secure the immediate release of Charles Li and put an end to this unprecedented persecution.
Category: April 25 Events
