(Clearwisdom.net) In the morning of July 22, 2003, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners from
all over the world held a symbolic trial in front of Capitol Hill to comprehensively expose the
persecution. In the afternoon, there was a public assembly at the same location, which was warmly
supported by different circles in society. When a reporter asked a fairly new practitioner how she
felt about attending this activity, the lady who had spent most of her life in Mainland China said,
"I've attended a few experience sharing conferences, but it's my first time to attend an
activity like this. Seeing so many people supporting Dafa is really encouraging and heartwarming. We
should really cultivate well!"
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The judges' bench is set up in front of Capitol Hill. A
practitioners who helped to plan the event said, "Three weeks wouldn't be enough time to list
all of the crimes that Jiang Zemin and the 610 Office has committed in the four years of
persecution. Even though this symbolic trial is limited by time and it's impossible to cover every
aspect of the persecution, we believe that it will help people to understand the facts more
comprehensively and deeply, and also serve as an encouragement for everyone." |
Prosecutor reads the charges |
Prosecutor reads the charges |
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The judge opens the trial |
Nine witnesses took the stand to expose 1) how Jiang
overrode the rest of the leadership and single-handedly started a "campaign of
elimination" 2) the 610 criminal system and its policies to wipe out Falun Gong 3) the
suppression being extended overseas 4) the various lies from the Jiang regime to sustain the
persecution 5) the torture and the 610 Office's policies of "destroying them physically"
6) Jiang Zemin and the 610 Office's suppression and control of people's minds. |
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Falun Gong representatives from all over the world with placards of
their native countries and words such as "Stop the Persecution", "Urgently Rescue
Charles Li", and "Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice". |
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Thousands of hearts united as one |
Displays memorializing the practitioners who have died as a result of the
persecution |
Various groups supported the practitioners' public assembly, condemning the persecution and showing
their support for "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance". More than thirty NGO's came to
support the practitioners' public assembly, and several members of Congress came to make speeches
against the violation of human rights and freedom of belief. Each of the placards next to the stage
gave the name and acknowledged the support of a government official who wanted to express his or her
support but could not come in person.
The practitioners participating in the public assembly prominently displayed many banners and
placards, exposing the persecution
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Preparations before the trial |
The three judges |