Washington DC [US], April 27 (ANI): A group of lawmakers expressed solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners on April 25, marking the 27th anniversary of a peaceful 1999 protest in China whose consequences continue to be felt today, according to a report by The Epoch Times (TET).
The April 25 appeal was one of the largest protests in recent Chinese history. Around 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Beijing seeking the release of detained followers and the freedom to practice their beliefs. Despite initial assurances from authorities, the demonstration did not lead to greater freedoms. Within three months, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a large-scale crackdown on the group. Reports say the persecution has continued ever since, with some experts describing it as a form of “cold genocide.”
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said each year on April 25 and throughout the year, Falun Gong practitioners are honoured for their courage and resilience in the face of what he described as the CCP’s ongoing campaign of persecution, defamation, and transnational repression. He added the effort to eliminate Falun Gong would be remembered as one of the most serious crimes of the 21st century.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice involving gentle exercises and teachings based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Introduced publicly in China in 1992, it spread rapidly; by the late 1990s official estimates suggested about 70 million practitioners, TET reported.
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), a member of the House Select Committee on the CCP, said the anniversary is a reminder of the courage of more than 10,000 practitioners who peacefully stood for their beliefs despite repression. Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), who serves on both the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the House Select Committee on the CCP, described reports of forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners by Chinese authorities as “abhorrent,” saying the CCP’s campaign began 27 years ago under the pretext of suppressing a peaceful call for freedom. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
