(Clearwisdom.net) On October 4, 2006, Mr. Mark Green, Mayor, and Mr. Richard Valle, Vice Mayor, of Union City, California, issued a proclamation to condemn any form of persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and urge all governments to investigate any atrocities taking place against Falun Gong practitioners, take all reasonable steps to bring an end to any form of persecution and request the release of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. Below is the text of the proclamation.

City of Union City

Proclamation

Whereas, Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) is a self-improvement Qi Gong practice rooted in ancient Chinese culture and was first introduced to the general public in 1992, and recognized by the City Council of Union City on December 5, 2000; and

Whereas, Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) a peaceful spiritual Chinese cultivation practice based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance has attracted millions of people of all ages and backgrounds over 80 countries around the world; and

Whereas, the Falun Gong practitioners in China have been persecuted since 1999 and David Kilgore, former Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) for Canada, and David Matas, international human rights lawyer, have conducted an independent investigation and released their report to the media on July 6, 2006; and

Whereas, the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) in China has been formed all over the world to investigate the activities of underground concentration camps in China; and

Whereas, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, member of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China has been detained in China since August 15, 2006; and

Whereas, Falun Gong practitioners have requested CIPFG and other international investigation teams be permitted to go to China to conduct investigations, make provision for the safety of each investigator, and release any practitioners being illegally detained.

Now Therefore, the undersigned hereby condemn any form of persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, urge all governments to investigate any atrocities taking place against Falun Gong practitioners, take all reasonable steps to bring an end to any form of persecution and request the release of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

Dated this 4^th Day of October 2006

Mark Green, Mayor

Richard Valle, Vice Mayor