NEW YORK—Hundreds gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate on 42nd Street Wednesday evening to remember victims of a brutal campaign against Falun Gong practitioners that has stretched on for 12 long years.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, “is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline that is Buddhist in nature,” states the Falun Dafa Information Center website.
On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began rounding up adherents of the spiritual practice, as then-dictator Jiang Zemin called for the eradication of Falun Gong. A state survey at the time found that 70 million to 100 million people had taken up the practice since Mr. Li Hongzhi first introduced it to the public in 1992—a figure that exceeded the total number of registered members of the CCP.
Zemin has been recently reported to be either brain-dead or dead, though neither the CCP nor the Chinese state media have offered a clear report on the matter.
Since 1999, CCP agents have defamed, beaten, raped, tortured, and murdered tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners. At least 3,427 deaths while in custody of the CCP have been documented to date. Since the beginning of this year, at a minimum three dozen practitioners have lost their lives as a result of the ongoing persecution, reports the Falun Dafa Information Center.
“I’m here in a free country where I can practice,” reflected Falun Gong practitioner Fabio Emma, as he stood next to the crowd of people peacefully meditating. “Sometimes I think how hard it would be in China. It doesn’t make any sense that it’s happening to peaceful and innocent people just because they practice truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.”
Truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance are the three main principles of Falun Gong. These words were displayed in both English and Chinese on giant banners surrounding those gathered at the vigil.
Charles Lee, 46, stood next to one of the banners and recounted his time in a Chinese prison. He was incarcerated for three years for attempting to broadcast the truth of the persecution on television in China, where the media is strictly controlled by the CCP.
“They [CCP] control your job. They can withdraw your pension. They control people in so many different ways,” Lee explained.
While in prison, CCP agents made Lee sit up straight, disallowing any movement, 12 hours a day for nearly two months. He was beaten, forced to watch brainwashing videos that slandered Falun Gong, and monitored by criminal inmates, who were ordered to jump on him and attack if he began to do the meditative Falun Gong exercises. All of these tactics are commonly used by the CCP to persecute Falun Gong adherents. Lee recited the teachings of Falun Gong in his mind and never let go of his belief.
An estimated 40 million people in China have continued to practice Falun Gong to this day. The spiritual discipline is openly practiced in 70 countries around the world.
“All the evilness of the CCP just strengthens our faith. In the face of their lies, we are even more determined to stick to the truth,” declared Lee.
