September 11, 2003

A group brings its rescue journey to Shreveport today in an effort to draw attention to the plight of a U.S. citizen it claims has been detained unlawfully in China for more than six months.

The group seeking the release of Dr. Charles Lee of Menlo Park, Calif., will hold a petition-signing event at 10 a.m. in front of Shreveport City Hall.

Lee was arrested in Guangzhou, China, for his intention to expose the human rights violation suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in China, according to information provided to The Times by the group, which identified its members as relatives and friends of Lee. They claim mounting evidence suggests Lee has been mentally and physically tortured.