(Clearwisdom.net) September 3 report: On Saturday morning, August 30, 2003, Pennsylvania Eighth District State Senator Mr. Anthony H. Williams sponsored a large-scale 14th Good Neighbor Street Celebration and Parade in his precinct in West Philadelphia to thank residents for their support, and to enhance understanding between different nationalities and people with different cultural backgrounds in the community. Many government officials, including the mayor of Philadelphia John F. Street, attended the activity. Falun Gong practitioners in the Philadelphia area were invited to participate in the parade and celebration. They performed Falun Gong exercises and traditional Chinese festive dance and waist drums.
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| Falun Gong practitioners' fan dance performance | Falun Gong practitioners' waist drums performance |
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| People on the street accept Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials | Pennsylvania Senator Anthony H. Williams (the second on the left) and the mayor of Philadelphia John F. Street (the third on the left) and other government officials |
Residents gave warm applause to the practitioners' wonderful performances. Some people especially asked how they could learn to practice Falun Gong and invited the practitioners to their schools to teach their students to practice the exercises.
During the parade and celebration, the practitioners took the opportunity to tell the local people about Falun Dafa and the truth about the persecution in China. They also called for rescuing American citizen Charles Li and Ms. Yang Jingfang, the sister of Dr. Yang Jingduan from the Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia.
During the conversation with the practitioners, Senator Williams expressed that he understood the situation of Charles Li and Yang Jingfang, who have been imprisoned in Chinese jails for practicing Falun Gong. He said that Falun Gong's performance was wonderful. He has learned about the persecution against the practitioners' belief and their cultivation that takes place in China. It is very much unacceptable. He has also learned about the practitioners' great endurance, and expressed his support for them.
Senator Williams expressed that he hoped to promote the activity around the US, and to let government officials in the Department of State convey their wishes to the Chinese government officials. He said, "America supports the rights of life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. We hope other countries can also do so."
