(Clearwisdom.net) On September 26, 2004, overseas Chinese in Los Angeles held a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the Chinese National Day at Banes Park. When Jiang's regime started to persecute Falun Gong in China in 1999, Falun Gong practitioners in Los Angeles came here every year to clarify the truth to people who are from China. As more people began to understand the true situation regarding the persecution of Falun Gong, this environment has greatly improved.
During the past few years, many people who participated in the celebration had been deceived by propaganda from Jiang's regime and misunderstood Falun Gong. They were even unwilling to receive materials from Falun Gong practitioners. However, this year was different, and more than half of the people took newspapers, materials, and CDs about Falun Gong into the conference, where they publicly discussed Jiang Zemin and the persecution of Falun Gong. Many people stood in the front of the anti-torture picture display for a long time and expressed their sympathy for Falun Gong practitioners who are being tortured in China. There were also some people who asked for the location of the practice sites for Falun Gong.
A woman who participated in the performance talked to the Falun Gong practitioners for a long time. One practitioner works in a famous pharmaceutical company and is the manager in the product development department. He explained to the woman how to see beyond her current mentality and talked about how he benefited from Falun Gong. Although he is a professional pharmaceutical expert, he was unable to heal his illness with medication, and it was Falun Dafa that restored his health. The woman was moved by his experience. She said that she would like to learn Falun Gong.
Hoping to address people who wrongly think that Falun Gong practitioners are against the Chinese government, practitioners displayed a banner that read, "Love China, Protect Human Rights." Practitioners pointed out to people that Falun Gong is not involved in politics and that protecting human rights shows true care for their country. The goal of stopping the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong is done for the benefit of the entire country. A lot of overseas Chinese praised this idea. Practitioners also took the initiative to communicate and clarify the truth to the security staff and policemen at the event. Therefore, there was no interference in the practitioners' activities.
Practitioners practiced the exercises, sent righteous thoughts, kept Master's teachings firmly in mind, and clarified the truth to people with compassion. The entire surroundings were enveloped in the peaceful atmosphere.
As for a few individuals who still opposed Falun Gong, the practitioners used righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil elements behind them and faced them with compassion. One leader of the overseas Chinese opposed Falun Gong for a long time and said, "Why do you make trouble every time?" Practitioners said to her with a smile, "Jiang Zemin has already stepped down from power. Why are you still following him?" When the leader saw that other overseas Chinese leaders laughed at her, calling her "an old diehard," she did not say another word.
One student that was in charge of the safety of the conference saw a Falun Gong practitioner wearing a Falun Gong badge walking into the conference, and he said, "Falun Gong, get out of here!" The practitioner replied, "Your request is unreasonable. If you insist on this, I will call the police." This student had nothing else to say.
When the security staff attempted to drive out the reporters who sympathized with Falun Gong, practitioners pointed out seriously, "The conference was registered as a public event. If you suddenly impose limitations, it will violate the rules. The police will stop your activities." The security staff said that it was an order sent by a higher authority, but he did not say who this was. Then he ran to a staff member of the consulate and whispered to him. He came back and did not make another sound.
The practitioner who wore a large Falun badge walked into the conference and shook hands with staff of the executive committee one by one. He sent his regards to the reporters and staff of the consulate. He also clarified the truth to a large group of people. Most of the people came to the opinion that they have no quarrel with Falun Gong, and that the choice to practice it or not is a personal freedom that the government should not interfere with.
September 30, 2004