April 17, 2001
This evening we gather to remember the 192 individuals who have died at the hands of the Chinese government in its persecution of a peaceful spiritual practice called Falun Gong. All around the world Falun Gong practitioners and supporters sit in silence as do we, before candles, to remember those whose lives have been cut short due to a government's desire to crush a faith. They gather in Geneva, Paris, Copenhagen, Brussels, Gothenburg, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., and many other towns and cities.
Why is it this night that we gather? This is the eve of a monumental day. Tomorrow, the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, will vote on the future of human rights in China. Tomorrow, fifty-three countries will decide whether to stand in solidarity with all those who uphold basic human rights, or to stand against them. Human rights abuses against Falun Gong in China are systematic and brutal -- no one can deny this. The crackdown in China began with midnight arrests and book burnings. Now, it has escalated to the killing of at least 192 gentle, innocent people. Fifteen Falun Gong practitioners have died since the beginning of the Human Rights Commission one month ago.
We gather together tonight to remember the 192 precious lives that have been lost.
We remember the women. The elderly women who have been beaten to death in cold detention centers, and those who have been raped and molested by their captors.
We remember the children and youth. The two teenage girls who were murdered in custody, and the dozens of children who are now motherless.
We remember the men. The men who courageously stood up for justice and freedom until police killed them, and the once-strong men who withered away in labor camps.
Each was killed simply for believing in the three principles of Falun Gong: Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance. Each was a victim of President Jiang's violent campaign against Falun Gong -- a campaign that is rampant and growing in its crimes against humanity. We watch in shock as China's leadership blatantly disregards human rights and its own constitution. We are here today to remember the loss of these gentle, innocent lives. We will not forget the truth of what is happening in China. Chinese President Jiang has torn families and communities apart, turning brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor. Now is the time to come together.
For more information, please visit the Falun InfoCenter at http://www.faluninfo.net/
Category: Journeys of Cultivation
