Demonstration Outside the Metropolitan Museum

On September 7 at dusk, some Falun Gong practitioners went in small groups to the Metropolitan Museum located at 82^nd Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. There was a dinner reception hosted by the U.S. president to which leaders from many countries, including China, were invited. Dafa practitioners took this chance to repeat their appeals. A group practice of more than 100 people was held between 86^th and 87^th Streets on Fifth Avenue. Another several hundred practitioners distributed all kinds of material around the museum. Since leaders from many countries were there, security was very tight with a lot of policemen around. Practitioners were all very cooperative with the police and did not let anything happen that would damage the image of Dafa. In areas where distributing materials was not allowed, not a single flyer was handed out. In areas where people were not allowed to stop, practitioners kept walking around in small groups of five or six people, with small banners in their hands demanding that the Chinese government release all the detained practitioners. After their group practice, those practitioners on 86^th Street spread out to distribute material around the Metropolitan Museum. A few people stayed behind to wait for the motorcades carrying world leaders to pass through. Although it wasn't the main route that motorcades would take, our practitioners did not want to miss the slightest chance to demonstrate Falun Gong to Chinese leaders and other world leaders. At 78^th Street, 81^st Street and all other streets where motorcades were anticipated to pass, there were practitioners. Several practitioners that stayed on 86^th street found a few sticks and used them to hold up a big banner that read, "Falun Dafa is Good." Every time motorcades passed, they stood on tiptoes, straightened their backs and held the 5 by 15 foot banner up high so that people could see it from inside the cars. At several other places where motorcades could pass by, dozens of practitioners held banners that read "RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF BELIEF," "UN: URGE CHINA TO STOP PERSECUTING FALUN GONG," and " STOP THE BRUTAL SURPRESSION OF FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS," as well as small triangular flags that said "FALUN DAFA," and "TRUTHFULNESS, COMPASSION, FORBEARANCE." Every time a motorcade passed by, a western practitioner would lean forward a little bit and raise the small triangular flag with both hands, sincerely hoping that the people inside those cars could see the words on her flag: "TRUTHFULNESS, COMPASSION, FORBEARANCE." She looked so enthusiastic and earnest. I believe that in similar events before, where tight security was needed, police officers were always the last group of people to leave, but this time Dafa practitioners were the last to leave. As cultivators, we do not pursue interests and honor in this world. What we want is to return to our true selves. As cultivators, we do not care about personal loss and gain. The compassion of Dafa has taught us what is best for everyone. We will continue to strive forward in our cultivation toward the realm of selflessness and altruism, and, at the same time, help more people know the truth about Falun Gong. New York practitioners, 09/08/2000