Orange County, New York: Elected Officials Issue Proclamations to Honor World Falun Dafa Day

(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021, was the 22^nd World Falun Dafa Day and the 29^th anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. Elected officials from Orange County sent issued proclamations and citations to mark the occasion.

Congressman Sean P. Maloney issued a Congressional Proclamation to recognize and honor World Falun Dafa Day. The proclamation reads, “Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the lives of local residents in New York during these difficult and unprecedented times, offering exercise instruction and health information through free online workshops, television programs, and outdoor exercise, helping many New Yorkers cope with the global pandemic and changing their life for the better.”

Congressman Sean P. Maloney

Congressional Proclamation from Congressman Sean P. Maloney

New York State Senator Mike Martucci issued a proclamation recognizing the 22^nd annual Falun Dafa Day in New York State’s 42^nd Senate District.

The proclamation reads, “Falun Dafa transcends boundaries and contributes to a healthier and more harmonious society: it is an uplifting mind-body practice that empowers individuals to embrace what is virtuous, improving their well-being holistically.”

“Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the lives of local residents in Orange County during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering exercise instruction and health information through free online workshops, cultural programs on television, outdoor exercises sites, and various personal testimonies; many New Yorkers have found it to be life-changing and even life-saving.”

New York State Senator Mike MartucciProclamation from New York State Senator Mike Martucci

Karl Brabenec, Member of New York State Assembly, issued a citation proclaiming May 13, 2021 as World Falun Dafa Day.

The citation states, “Since 1999, there has been an effort by the Chinese government to eradicate the practice of Falun Dafa. Such practice by the Chinese government is without reason.

“Falun Gong practitioners, notwithstanding the effort of the Chinese government to eradicate this practice, have met such attacks on their practice with perseverance, focuses on ensuring their practice can continue to grow and spread its benefits around the world.”

Karl Brabenec, Member of New York State Assembly

Citation from Assembly Member Karl Brabenec

County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus of the Orange County declared May 13, 2021 as Falun Dafa Day honoring Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance in Orange County, New York.

County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus of the Orange County

Proclamation from County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus

Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano of the City of Middletown issued a proclamation: The City of Middletown recognizes celebration of World Falun Dafa Day.

The proclamation reads, “Falun Dafa practitioners helped shed light on communism’s destructive nature through peaceful decades-long protest against the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party and its human rights abuses.”

Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano of the City of Middletown

Proclamation from Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano of the City of Middletown

Mayor Michael P. Sweeton of the Town of Warwick proclaimed “May 13, 2021 as Falun Dafa Day honoring Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance in the Town of Warwick, New York, and invite all citizens to duly note this occasion to celebrate Falun Dafa which brings health and wellbeing to 100 million people worldwide through practicing ‘Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance’, the characteristics of the universe.”

Mayor Michael P. Sweeton of the Town of Warwick

Proclamation from Mayor Michael P. Sweeton of the Town of Warwick

Background: What is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises—and experienced uplifted health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang's personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.