"Falun Gong Practitioners' Peaceful July 20th Protest Highlights Human Rights Issues in China"

Nationwide Peaceful Protests by Falun Gong Practitioners

Each year, a significant but lesser-known event takes place across the United States: peaceful protests by Falun Gong practitioners at state capitols. These demonstrations aim to raise awareness about the brutal persecution their fellow meditators face in China.

Recently, the U.S. government has begun to recognize this persecution and is taking steps to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for its human rights violations.

Falun Gong practitioners march during a parade calling for the end of the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing persecution, now entering its 26th year, at the National Mall in Washington on July 11, 2024. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

The Significance of July 20th

July 20th holds particular significance for these protests, as it marks the anniversary of the day in 1999 when Jiang Zemin, then Premier of China, initiated a brutal crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners. The movement had gained immense popularity, with membership estimates ranging from 70 to 100 million. Jiang perceived this as a threat to the CCP’s influence over the Chinese populace.

25 Years of Persecution

For 25 years, Falun Gong practitioners have faced severe persecution, including detention, brainwashing, torture, and forced organ harvesting. An independent tribunal in 2019 confirmed that Chinese authorities had been killing prisoners of conscience for their organs on a significant scale, with Falun Gong practitioners being the primary victims.

U.S. Calls for an End to the Persecution

On July 20, marking the 25th anniversary of the crackdown, the U.S. government reiterated its call for the Chinese regime to end its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the ongoing human rights abuses and the U.S.’s commitment to advocating for freedom of belief and holding violators accountable.

A recent House Resolution has passed with the goal of forcing an end to the Chinese regime’s long-running campaign of persecution against the spiritual group Falun Gong. The bipartisan Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R. 4132), introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) with 18 co-sponsors, passed by a voice vote on June 25. It is the first U.S. legislative bill addressing Beijing’s brutal suppression of the faith to advance through the chamber.

“We call upon the PRC to cease its repressive campaign and release all who have been imprisoned for their beliefs,” Miller stated.

Support from U.S. and International Leaders

U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussain, along with various lawmakers and international figures, has expressed support for Falun Gong practitioners. Miriam Lexmann, a Member of the European Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), pledged continued support against CCP’s violations of fundamental human rights.

In June, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to sanction those involved in Beijing’s forced organ harvesting and called for an end to the 25-year-long persecution. Representative Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the bill’s sponsor, stood in solidarity with the practitioners, expressing hope and support for their cause. Similarly, Representative Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) emphasized her commitment to religious liberty and human rights.

Raising Global Awareness

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice rooted in traditional Chinese beliefs, focusing on principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance, along with meditative exercises. Despite its peaceful nature, the CCP’s campaign against Falun Gong has been relentless and brutal.

The Minghui website, a platform dedicated to documenting the persecution, lists numerous events that took place around the U.S. on July 20th, reflecting the global effort to raise awareness and advocate for the end of this persecution.

Conclusion

As Falun Gong practitioners continue to peacefully protest and raise awareness, international support grows. The call for the Chinese regime to end its persecution and uphold human rights is louder than ever, resonating from the United States to the European Parliament and beyond. The ongoing efforts highlight the resilience and determination of Falun Gong practitioners and their supporters in the face of adversity.

Reports From Around the World

Minghui.org is a reporting website that shares stories from Falun Gong practitioners in China about their persecution, documents global efforts to expose these human rights abuses, and provides accounts of practitioners’ experiences in the practice.