(Clearwisdom.net) The Washington DC branch of The Epoch Times newspaper held a press conference about the implications of CCP behind-the-scenes involvement in the recent attacks in Flushing on the afternoon of June 9, 2008 in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC.

Epoch Times holds a press conference in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC

John Caldwell, Private First Class of the U.S. Marine Corps supports his mother and her fellow Falun Gong practitioners

Chip Byers, Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of the American Legion

Assistant of U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis attends the press conference

Ms. Yi, a volunteer at the "Quit the CCP" service center in New York

The press conference included legislative counsel from U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis' office, representatives from the Quit the CCP service centers, the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), a human rights lawyer, the American Association for Wartime Veterans and representatives of Falun Gong practitioners who were assaulted at the Quit the CCP Center in Flushing, New York. They exposed how the CCP, in order to shift attention away from their failings in the earthquake disaster, lies to frame Falun Gong as a scapegoat. Causing violent attacks in Flushing, the CCP media mouthpieces then turned the story around to accuse Falun Gong of interfering with efforts to collect earthquake relief donations abroad. Such lies are widely broadcast in China, further turning public sentiment against Falun Gong, and distracting public attention from the CCP's own failings. These twisted tactics were also exposed in the U.S. Congress.

U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis sent his legislative counsel to attend the press conference. She spoke on his behalf, stating that Rep. Bilirakis will continue supporting freedom of belief for Falun Gong, in particular but for all of those victimized in China by the oppression of the CCP. She said, "It is very distressing that this is going on in the United States. We will continue to call for the United States government, the State Department and the Department of Justice to investigate any consular activity on the part of the Chinese regime engaging in intimidating the United States citizens here in the U.S. for engaging in practice of your faith."

Flushing incident is part of the CCP's deliberate and systematic action to malign

Editor-in-chief of the Epoch Times newspaper Annette Guo said, "In the Flushing incident, Epoch Times photographer Yu Wenzhong was assaulted, resulting in bleeding and injury to his ear. He was sent to a hospital. The thugs threatened, 'If the police hadn't intervened, we would have already beaten you to death.' There were several other violent attacks against the Epoch Times newspaper staff in other places around the world. Recently, in the capital of Poland, CCP accomplices attacked an Epoch Times newspaper staff member who was distributing the newspaper and threatened her with death. On May 30, the Chicago Epoch Times office received a threatening letter with white powder along with a copy of the Epoch Times newspaper that carried the news about the Flushing incident."

Ms. Guo said that the Epoch Times has become a focus of CCP attacks. Although the Flushing incident looked as if it occurred accidentally, it is actually a case where the CCP manipulated people's feelings to systematically incite hatred.

She said that the CCP covered up the fact that there were earthquake predictions, leading to needless loss of life. The CCP wanted to quickly shift focus away from itself, so it directed hatred toward Falun Gong.

WOIPFG reveals CCP tactics to frame Falun Gong

Xia Yiyang, representative of WOIPFG, introduced an investigative report released by the WOIPFG two days ahead of the Flushing attack. The report is entitled, "Investigative Report on the CCP's Control of Overseas Chinese and Global United Front Work Strategy."

Mr. Pang, also representing the WOIPFG, said that Zhou Yongkang, Secretary of the CCP Political and Judiciary Committee mobilized the CCP spy system among spies in mainland China, in spy organizations overseas including Associations of Chinese Students and Scholars, Chinese community associations, in overseas Chinese students' email system, in the CCP-controlled overseas media, and on various occasions organized by overseas Chinese communities. These special agents acted as "students," "people in the Chinese community," and even "sympathizers of Falun Gong," or "Falun Gong practitioners." They widely spread rumors, falsely claiming that "Falun Gong is not contributing to the [earthquake] disaster relief drive."

In addition, CCP spies also released news on websites impersonating Falun Gong practitioners, or acted as sympathizers of Falun Gong practitioners to spread false rumors in Chinese community.

Such acts were also taking place simultaneously in mainland China. The CCP spies spread rumors in all fields to frame Falun Gong in an attempt to incite public hatred for Falun Gong in China.

Headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps learn about the Flushing incident

Ms. Yi, a volunteer at the Quit the CCP service center in New York elaborated in detail about what had happened over the past three weeks. The CCP plotted and directed behind-the-scenes thugs to verbally abuse, besiege and physically assault Falun Gong practitioners who were engaging in activities helping Chinese people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. The assaults took place in Flushing, an area of New York with a large Chinese population.

A video was shown at the press conference including footage of one assault.

Ms. Judy Chen, who was assaulted by the CCP thugs, said that she was very sad after seeing the film. It reminds her of those Falun Gong practitioners who have been subject to the CCP persecution, and those practitioners who have had their organs harvested by the CCP.

"In this free country, I have never seen such a scene. In an instant, hundreds of Chinese surrounded us, cursing and hitting us, and waving red flags. Their faces were full of hatred. I don't know what I did wrong. In the past four years, my husband and I have been working as volunteers at the Quit the CCP service center, delivering materials, distributing flyers and helping Chinese people who want to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations," said Ms. Chen.

Ms. Chen called on President Bush to stop the CCP from inciting hatred on U.S. soil. She said, "Our sons are fighting [on the front lines] to defend the country, but what is happening in our free land?!"

Marine Lance Corporal John Caldwell, who accompanied his mother to the press conference, said that he was very upset seeing his mother being assaulted in their own country, and he was also proud of his mother for being steadfast in her belief.

Caldwell continued, "I always support Falun Gong, even though not a practitioner, but I'm a supporter. I never really understood what she was doing, but realized that it does a lot, changes a person mental, physically, spiritually, and brings out the best of a man. And what she is doing now, I understand why she does it. She's a lot more happier, more enthusiastic and she is at peace."

John Caldwell is a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, and will soon go to Iraq once again. Caldwell said that Marine Headquarters has learned about this incident, and he also explained to his unit and other departments about the Flushing incident. He said that what had happened should never happen again.

It is unacceptable that the CCP agents assault hero's mother

Chip Byers, Commander of the Sons of the American Legion said, "We probably would not normally have someone speaking here as horrible things going on in New York, much as we're against them, but we have this lady here Ms. Chen, while her sons are defending this country, agents of a foreign government are attacking their mother, that affects the American Legion family. We will not accept that. The agent of a foreign government is arranging persecution for the parent of two heroes that are serving their country."

Commander Byers said to Ms. Chen, "You are an American hero. You are standing up for truth, justice and the American way."

Human rights lawyer Ye Ning: The Nine Commentaries and the movement to Quit the CCP have touched a nerve

Washington DC and New York human rights lawyer Ye Ning believes that the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and the Quitting the CCP movement have touched a nerve, and therefore the CCP strikes out at Falun Gong.

Ye Ning said that the CCP is implementing a step-by-step plan, using the excuse of the earthquake disaster, to construct the false image that the whole nation is behind the central government. This, and the hopes that the Olympic Games will prolong its rule, are the CCP's real motive for its actions.

Ye Ning witnessed how frenziedly the CCP thugs assaulted Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing, NY. He said, "When I passed by the Flushing Public Library, I saw Falun Gong practitioners holding banners and photos of their fellow practitioners who have died as a result of the CCP's persecution. They were very peaceful. On the other side of the street, a large crowd of people made indecent gestures."

Mr. Ye Ning continued, saying that the CCP has killed 80 million Chinese people during times of peace, far more than the number of people that Hitler killed during World War II. Since the persecution of Falun Gong began in 1999, human rights reports show that more than 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been killed, more than 6,000 practitioners have been heavily sentenced, and 100,000 to 150,000 practitioners have been detained in forced labor camps.

Mr. Ye said, that the CCP is not satisfied with persecuting Chinese people inside China; it extends its state terrorism into the U.S. and other countries around the world.

Mr. Ye concluded by saying that if we do not stand up now to safeguard freedom of humanity, particularly freedom in the U.S., it will be too late.