Brief News from New York - 09/08/2000

1) Successful Large-scale Group Exercises held on Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

On September 8^th, after three days of activities, Falun Gong practitioners from over 30 states in the United States and various countries around the world continued doing group exercises to appeal to the Chinese government. The appeal took place on Dag Hammarskjold Plaza across the street from the United Nations. Because there would be protests by many other groups that day, the police asked Falun Gong practitioners to return to practice on the grounds near 2^nd Avenue. Falun Gong practitioners attempted to comply with the advice of police; however, because there were so many practitioners that day, Falun Gong practitioners still took up the majority of the space on the Plaza.

More than 500 Falun Gong practitioners joined the day's activities. Practitioners stood in rows and lines to practice the Falun Gong exercises. There were Chinese and English posters as well as large wreaths of flowers made with green cypress surrounded by white lotus' and roses in front of the practice group. The wreaths were in memory of 50 Chinese practitioners who sacrificed their lives for Dafa. Practitioners were on several streets in the neighborhood distributing Falun Gong introductory materials to passers-by. Although this was the fourth day of the activities, the media continued to cover it. Practitioners were very meticulous and their peaceful demeanor demonstrated to people the great compassion of Falun Buddha Law. The appeal started at 8:00am and ended by 5:00pm.

2) A Demonstration of Falun Gong Exercises at the Javits Center

In order to over-shadow allegations of serious violations of human rights, the Chinese government spent millions of dollars holding a Chinese Culture Week in New York. Starting from September 6^th, Falun Gong practitioners practiced the exercises to promote Dafa in front of the Javits Center in New York, where the arts and tourism products exhibition called " Walk toward China" was being held.

At 10:00am, in the area designated by police, practitioners unfurled a banner, which read, " Falun Dafa is good". They set up exhibition boards, and began to practice the five sets of Falun Gong exercises accompanied by the music. The scene created was one of great peacefulness.

Many passers-by came over to take a look at the group practice and exhibition of photographs. There were several local western people who were interested and asked for information about practice sites and phone numbers of contact people. There were also western people who didn't want to wait, were eager to participate, and started to learn the exercises on the spot.

The Chinese government demanded that the police not allow Falun Gong practitioners to enter the exhibition. Therefore, the policemen came and asked Falun Gong practitioners not to wear the yellow Falun Gong T-shirt if they wanted to attend the exhibition. Falun Gong practitioners cooperated with the police's requests.

3) The Falun Dafa Banners at Lincoln Center

That night, the Chinese Folk Music Performance Group held a concert that the Chinese leader would be attending. Several hundred Falun Gong practitioners practiced the exercises outside Lincoln Center to appeal to the Chinese government to stop persecuting Falun Gong and release all detained Falun Gong practitioners.

At 10:00 pm, when the Chinese leader wanted to secretly leave in a car from the back door, dozens of Falun Gong practitioners unfurled a banner and held it up high facing the car. The banner read, " Practicing Falun Gong is a Right!" It expressed the sentiment of tens of millions of Falun Gong practitioners.

4) A Loud Appeal in Front of the Chinese leader

At noon, when the Chinese leader was leaving for a luncheon held at the Waldorf Hotel, one Falun Gong practitioner, standing about one meter from him, appealed loudly by saying: " President Jiang, please release all Falun Gong practitioners!" Many media journalists and Chinese staff clearly heard this practitioner's appeal.

5) Picture: Falun Gong Advertising Truck Driving in downtown Manhattan.

Provided by Falun Gong practitioners in New York