(Minghui.org) May 13 this year was the 30th anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the world and also the 23rd World Falun Dafa Day. More than one thousand elected officials in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Taiwan issued proclamations, citations, and congratulatory letters to Falun Dafa and its founder Mr. Li Hongzhi. They praised Falun Gong practitioners’ improved personal character and the practice’s positive impact on their communities, including their efforts in their communities during the pandemic.

Over 1000 proclamations, citations, and congratulatory letters honoring Falun Dafa and its founder Mr. Li Hongzhi were received from elected officials in the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia, Japan, and Taiwan. The image shows some of them. (The Epoch Times)1100 proclamations, citations, and congratulatory letters were received from elected officials in the United States and Canada.

72 proclamations, citations, and congratulatory letters were received from elected officials in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Parliamentarians and government officials at all levels in different countries have witnessed the courage of Falun Gong practitioners to resolutely and peacefully expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong from 1999 to the present. In the proclamations, citations, and congratulatory letters, they expressed their appreciation for the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and their gratitude and respect to Master Li Hongzhi.

In addition, 23 cities in Canada held flag-raising ceremonies and turned on colored lights in city halls and landmark buildings. Several mayors and councilors raised the Falun Dafa Day flag by themselves to recognize the contribution of Falun Dafa to society. This special format started in May 2021 and was followed by over ten Canadian city and town governments. This year the number increased to 23 cities.

In the United States, an American flag was flying over the Capitol in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, on May 13, World Falun Dafa Day. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf presented a certificate to Mr. Li Hongzhi with the American flag flying over the Pennsylvania Capitol on May 13.

Following are excerpts from some of the proclamations, citations, and congratulatory letters.

Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Benefit People Across the World

Mayor Brian Ostrander of the City of Brighton, Ontario, Canada said, “We are very proud to raise this flag. Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the philosophy of Falun Dafa and also the desire of our citizens in Brighton.”

New York City Council Member Linda Lee stated in her letter, “Introduced by Mr. Li Hongzhi in May 1992 with over 100 million followers worldwide, Falun Dafa has been noted to help individuals become happier, healthier, and more altruistic through its teachings of meditation and spirituality.”

Mayor Cavalier Johnson of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A., stated in his proclamation, “Falun Dafa emphasizes improving health in the mind, body, and spirit, eliminating attachments and ultimately achieving spiritual enlightenment.”

Jose G. Perez, president of the Common Council, stated in his proclamation, “Falun Dafa transcends cultural boundaries and contributes to a healthier and more peaceful society, and tens of millions of people from diverse cultures in more than 100 countries, including the United States, benefit from practicing Falun Gong, where the teachings help people improve their mental, moral and physical wellbeing.”

Essex County executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. stated in his letter, “Falun Dafa is a holistic approach that addresses physical, mental and emotional well-being, and consists of meditation, gentle sets of exercise, and emphasis on following a moral philosophy based on truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.”

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward of the City of Burlington stated in her proclamation, “At the core of Falun Dafa are the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Through consistent and dedicated practice, the student of Falun Gong comes to achieve a state of selflessness, greater insight and awareness, inner purity and balance.”

Contributions of Falun Gong Practitioners to Their Communities

Joseph C. Borelli, New York City Council Member of the 51st District, stated in his letter, “Please join me in honoring Falun Gong practitioners for their dedication and hard work to support the community through methods of engagement to support their mission for self-improvement, achieved through gentle exercises and meditation that help to bring enhanced health benefits and stress relief.”

Mayor Ras J. Baraka of the City of Newark stated in his letter, “Falun Dafa practitioners have brought these arts to many places across our state including senior centers, corporate offices, health clubs, parks, libraries, and private homes. Their timeless values of a healthy and peaceful mind and body empower many people of many ages. We feel privileged to have you as members of our community.”

Mayor Robin Jones of the Village of Westport, Canada, stated in the resolution, “Whereas Falun Dafa practitioners exercise the principles of Zhen-Shan-Ren, Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance – incorporate it into their daily lives, striving to become better people in all environments and situations;

“And Whereas transcending the racial and cultural boundaries, Falun Dafa embraces people of all ages, from all walks of life and religious affiliation.

“And Whereas the commitment of Falun Dafa practitioners to the peaceful resolution of conflicts under the most severe environment and their efforts to encourage people of our world to enjoy a healthy, harmonious and peaceful way of being have touched the hearts of all human beings.”

County executive Jan. H. Gardner of Frederick County, Maryland, stated in a proclamation, “Falun Dafa was first introduced to Maryland in 1996, and since then, many residents in the state have learned and benefited from the peaceful and effective practice. There are also volunteer-run practice sites in the parks, as well as free classes online. Falun Dafa practitioners also participate in parades, health expos, and other cultural events to enrich local communities.”

Online Classes During Pandemic

During the pandemic, Falun Gong practitioners taught the exercises for free online in 20 languages to people in 90 countries. Some officials specifically mentioned this in their proclamations and letters.

New York State Senator Andrew J. Lanza stated in proclamation, “Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the lives of residents of New York during these difficult times offering Falun Dafa exercise instructions and health benefits through free online workshops, cultural programs, outdoor exercise sites, and more.”

Yvette D. Clarke, Member of Congress, stated in her proclamation, “Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the lives of local residents in Brooklyn, New York, during these difficult times. They offer free Falun Gong exercise instructions and health benefits through free online workshops, cultural programs on TV cable shows, outdoor exercises sites and various personal experiences.”

Nevada State Assemblywoman Tracy M. Brown stated in a proclamation, “In these trying, post-pandemic times, the meditative exercise of Falun Dafa has provided many Nevadans with a natural and effective option to achieve mental clarity, stress relief, and newfound energy.

“Falun Dafa not only provides individuals with a sense of inner calm and optimism during dire circumstances, but it also provides a profound understanding of life and the universe.”

Governor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska stated in a proclamation, “Through practicing Falun Dafa, practitioners have gained tremendous benefit in health improvement, stress relief, and an improved value system. Falun Dafa’s principles and peaceful exercises have helped people overcome the difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Exposing the CCP’s Nature, and Safeguarding Human Dignity

Mayor Kevin Hartke of the City of Chandler, Arizona, U.S.A. stated in a proclamation, “Falun practitioners’ determination and courage to stand up for Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance while facing severe persecution from the Chinese Communist Party have shown the world the value of life and the preciousness of human dignity.”

New York State Senator Alexis Weik stated in a proclamation, “Falun Dafa practitioners have helped shed light on the Chinese Communist’s destructive nature through peaceful decades-long protests against the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party and its human rights abuses.”

Wisconsin State Senator André Jacque stated in his letter, “The efforts of your organization here in Wisconsin and at the Federal level to, in particular, educate others and express concern over the persistent and credible reports of systemic, state-sanctioned, forced organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience, including Falun Dafa practitioners imprisoned for their spiritual belief and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups in the People’s Republic of China are commendable.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, Texas, U.S.A. stated in a proclamation, “Major human rights organizations have documented the nation-wide campaign of hatred, torture, mass imprisonment and killing of people who practice Falun Gong in China for the past almost three decades. In lieu of these unspeakable atrocities, the Falun Dafa community in China and abroad have endured with resolute non-violence and persistence to uphold freedom and universal values. Their diligence has garnered global recognition and affection.”

New York State Senator Andrew J. Lanza stated in a proclamation, “It was Falun Dafa practitioners who printed the most detailed expose on the CCP ever published, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, and distributed it through China at great personal risk, so that, for the first time, Chinese citizens could learn the real story of the CCP, complete with the full history of its deceit and crimes.”

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward of the City of Burlington stated in a proclamation, “The great compassion and forbearance demonstrated by Falun Dafa practitioners under the Chinese communist regime’s most severe persecution have touched every kindhearted human being.”

Salute to Master Li Hongzhi

Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania stated in his letter, “In honor of Mr. Li Hongzhi, I am honored to present you with our Country’s beloved flag, which was flown over the Capitol in Harrisburg on the 13th day of May, 2022.”

Hakeem Jeffries, Member of Congress from New York, stated in his letter, “During its many years as an organization, Falun Dafa has been an integral and positive part of the lives of many. Not only is it a wide-reaching movement, but its practices also have tangible effects on our society. Offering access to many different necessities is important to the thriving of New Yorkers and many more around the globe, so we all are celebrating this anniversary, and we are all appreciative of the work of Mr. Li Hongzhi for his founding of this spiritual practice.”

Yvette D. Clarke, Member of Congress from New York, stated in a proclamation, “Falun Dafa was first made public by Mr. Li Hongzhi. A native of Changchun and now living in the U.S., Mr. Li is a five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and was nominated by the European Parliament for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. He is also the recipient of Freedom House’s International Religious Freedom Award. Falun Dafa is now practiced in over 80 countries, and Mr. Li’s teachings have been translated into over 40 languages.”

Taiwan Legislator Gao Jiayu stated, “We are grateful to Mr. Li Hongzhi for his founding Falun Gong and letting us understand Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, so that more social levels can purify the mind, improve morality, and allow more justice in the world. Thank you Master Li Hongzhi for bringing Falun Gong to the world, so that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance can continue to spread.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why is the CCP persecuting it?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.