(Minghui.org) July 20, 2024, was the 25th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. Twenty senators and members of the House of Representatives sent videos and letters or addressed the practitioners’ rally to condemn the persecution.
A candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, on the evening of July 20
Falun Gong practitioners in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States, held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy to commemorate those practitioners in China who have died over the past 25 years as a result of the CCP persecution.
While the official number of Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of CCP brutality stands at 5,088, that number is belived to be just a fraction of the actual number of deaths, due to the CCP’s information censorship and the ongoing nature of the persecution in China.
CECC Statement Condemns the CCP’s Persecution
Statement from the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) on Twitter (X)
CECC Chairs Chris Smith and Jeff Merkley issued a statement on Twitter (X) on July 11 condemning the CCP’s persecution. The statement reads, “Falun Gong practitioners in China continue to suffer some of the most appalling human rights abuses imaginable. We urge Secretary of State Blinken to join us in condemning a quarter-century of torture, arbitrary detention and religious freedom restrictions targeting Falun Gong.”
20 Senators and Members of the House Express Support to Falun Gong
From left to right and top to bottom: First row: Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) of Idaho, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) of Texas, Senator Todd Young (R-IN) of Indiana, Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) of Kansas, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) of Washington, D.C.
Second row: Representative Sanford Bishop Jr. (D-GA) of Georgia, Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) of Missouri, Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA) of Virginia, Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) of Virginia, Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) of Massachusetts
Third row: Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) of Missouri, Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) of New Jersey, Representative Jason Smith (R-MO) of Missouri, Representative Brian Babin (R-TX) of Texas, Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) of Washington
Fourth row: Representative French Hill (R-AR) of Arkansas, Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) of Pennsylvania, Representative Young Kim (R-CA) of California, Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) of South Carolina, and Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY) of New York
Democratic Representative Stephen F. Lynch of Massachusetts wrote in a statement that he was encouraged that the House of Representatives passed the bill—the Falun Gong Protection Act—last month. The bill requires the United States to impose sanctions on those involved in the forced organ harvesting in China and make it clear that there will be no tolerance for this barbaric behavior. This is an important bill, and he urged the Senate to review and pass it as soon as possible.
He stated that we firmly demand, and would continue to relentlessly demand, that China (CCP) end its oppression and persecution of its people.
Republican Representative Jason Smith of Missouri told Falun Gong practitioners in a letter that he would continue to firmly support them in their fight against the persecution, and fully support them in exposing the CCP’s serious human rights violations.
Republican Representative Brian Babin of Texas wrote that numerous reports indicated that Falun Gong prisoners of conscience were killed and their organs used for illegal trade, and that this behavior is absolutely intolerable. The United States must stand up and say no to these violations and speak out for the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners.
He said that it is the duty of the United States to bravely resist oppression and fight for the rights of the oppressed.
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