(Clearwisdom.net) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most famous universities in the world. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT enrolled 4,232 undergraduates and 6,152 graduate students for 2009–2010. It employs about 1,009 faculty members. 76 Nobel Laureates, 50 National Medal of Science recipients, and 35 MacArthur Fellows are currently or have previously been affiliated with the university.
On October 26, 2001, the newspaper associated with MIT, The Tech, published an article about Falun Gong. It included a brief introduction of the practice; photos of the exercises; a copy of a letter of appeal from Falun Gong practitioners from 90 American universities; a photo of Zhao Xin, a young professor in Beijing who was tortured to death during the persecution of Falun Gong; a photo of practitioners holding a banner worded “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” on Tiananmen Square; stories about Falun Gong practitioners; and Q&A on Falun Gong.
On October 26, 2001, an article on Falun Gong was published in The Tech.
On September 29 at the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center, MIT held a student organization expo to welcome new students. The MIT Falun Dafa Student Club reserved a booth to introduce Falun Dafa and clarify the facts of the ongoing persecution in China to students and parents. The club displayed two large posters to explain what Falun Gong is and how the Chinese Communist regime persecutes the practice. Five practitioners demonstrated the five exercises, and several practitioners shared their personal cultivation experiences and the suffering of their relatives in China with booth visitors.
Clarifying the truth to students
On December 10, 2001, International Human Rights Day, 20 MIT students and faculty members wrote a letter to the president of Qinghua University in China, appealing to his respect for human rights. The letter stated: “Falun Gong is freely practiced in 53 countries. There are Falun Gong practitioners in more than 100 universities in the USA. In Taiwan, there are more than 100 thousand practitioners. But in China, Falun Gong books are banned. Nobody has free access to Falun Gong information. MIT is Qinghua University's sister university. We write to you on International Human Rights Day to express our concerns about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.”
World Journal Daily reported on December 1, 2002 that the MIT Chapter of Amnesty International (AI), the MIT Human Rights and Justice Association, and the MIT Falun Gong Club jointly held a symposium entitled "Rescue Our Family Members Who Are Suffering in China." The meeting was part of the global "Rescue Our Family Members" campaign launched by Falun Gong practitioners.
At the symposium, several practitioners in the Boston area talked about the persecution that their family members in China have been suffering and their worrisome situations, and their hope that kindhearted people would help to rescue their family members.
On March 5, 2003, The Cambridge Chronicle (Cambridge, Massachusetts) covered the story that 150 Falun Gong practitioners were assembled at MIT, urging the American government to help rescue American citizen Charles Lee, who was arrested for clarifying the truth about Falun Gong in China. Several local media also reported the story.
Press conference regarding rescuing Charles Lee
On December 16-19, 2004, MIT hosted a special event, the "Truth, Compassion, Forbearance Art Exhibition." The exhibition featured 33 oil paintings, Chinese-style paintings, and sculptures created by Falun Dafa practitioner artists. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mr. William Galvin, Senator Susan Tucker, Senator Richard R Tisei, and House Representatives Karen Spilka and Mark Falzone issued proclamations to Mr. Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa. Artists Wang Weixing, Chen Xiaoping, Fan Hong, and Wang Zhiping came to Boston for the opening of the exhibition and shared their paintings.
The exhibition
Proclamations from Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, Senator Susan Tucker, Senator Richard R Tisei, and House Representatives Karen Spilka and Mark Falzone
Falun Gong has been honored with many proclamations from each level of government in Massachusetts. As early as 2000, the Cambridge City Council issued a proclamation honoring Falun Gong: “Cambridge is one of the earliest U.S. cities to benefit from Falun Dafa. Since its introduction in the Greater Boston area in 1995, free instruction and workshops have been offered at the Chinese Academy of Martial Arts, MIT, Harvard University, the Cambridge Library, CCTV, and various parks.”
In December 2000, the Cambridge City Council declares December 10-16, 2000, “Falun Dafa Week.”
More than 10 cities in Massachusetts, including Boston and Springfield, also issued proclamations honoring Falun Gong for its contribution to mental and physical health, peaceful resistance to the persecution, and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. In May 2008 the Massachusetts State Senate extended congratulations to Mr. Li Hongzhi in recognition of the 16th anniversary of World Falun Dafa Day.
In May 2008, the Massachusetts State Senate extends congratulations to Mr. Li Hongzhi in recognition of the 16th anniversary of World Falun Dafa Day.
On May 8, 2010, Massachusetts House Representatives Jay Kaufman and Sean D. Garballey jointly offered their sincerest congratulations to the Falun Dafa Association of New England in recognition of the World Falun Dafa and the determination and courage of practitioners to stand up for Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The House of Representatives of Massachusetts recognizes 2010 World Falun Dafa Day
