(Minghui.org) On April 11, 1999, He Zuoxiu from the Chinese Science Academy published an article in a nationwide journal slandering Falun Gong with fabricated stories. It is noteworthy that He Zuoxiu was a relative of Luo Gan, the then-CCP (Chinese Communist Party) secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Committee.
When Falun Gong practitioners went to the journal’s publisher headquartered in Tianjin to clarify the truth peacefully, they were harassed by the police, and over 40 practitioners were arrested.
Unable to get through to the local authorities, Falun Gong practitioners went to Beijing on April 25 to plead to the central government, asking for the release of the innocent practitioners. They also asked to be able practice the exercises without being harassed by certain government organizations.
On that day, more than 10,000 practitioners from Beijing and elsewhere gathered peacefully around Zhongnanhai, the central government compound. The police were seen directing practitioners to line up along the street outside Zhongnanhai. Even though there was a big turnout, the whole place was very peaceful and quiet.
After Zhu Rongji, the premier at the time, met with Falun Gong representatives, Zhu ordered the Tianjin police to release the unlawfully arrested practitioners. After hearing the good news, practitioners quietly dispersed late in the evening, leaving no trash behind, not even a scrap of paper. The “April 25” appeal was so peaceful that it was commented on by international media outlets as the “most peaceful and rational appeal in China’s history.”
That did not prevent Jiang Zemin from misrepresenting the peaceful protest as a “siege of Zhongnanhai” and used it as an excuse for the nationwide persecution of Falun Gong later on. I personally witnessed what happened that day.
I left home early in the morning on April 25, 1999, to wait for a bus to Beijing. Transport in the suburbs at that time was not as developed as it is now, and there were only a limited number of buses and some privately-operated passenger vans. As I was waiting, more people came along and I learned that they were all going to Beijing.
After we got on a bus, everyone was polite and tried to leave the seats for others. While I was standing by the door, a nice-looking woman waved to me, “Come here and sit with me.” I went over and the two of us shared one seat. I asked her if she was in her 40s. She said with a big smile, “I’m retiring this year. Since I started practicing Falun Gong, all my health problems disappeared, and my colleagues all say that I look much younger!”
Almost instantly, others around us joined the conversation, eager to share how they had benefited from practicing Falun Gong and the miraculous experiences they’d had. It was such a lively atmosphere!
Time passed quickly, and we arrived at our destination. We became separated after we got off the bus and drifted with the crowd to the street where the appeals office was located. People quietly lined up along the street. I kept walking because I wanted to see what the Central Appeals Office looked like.
It was a clear morning in early spring. The street in front of the building was clean and wide, with a few police officers here and there smoking and chatting. Although the weather was still a bit cool, the treetops were already dotted with tender green buds. The light blue sky and golden rays of sunlight made everything feel fresh and warm.
When I got to the end of the street and looked back, I was amazed by the beautiful scene of so many people lining up on the sides of the road. Some were wearing suits, some were in casual clothes, some were dressed in the uniforms of their profession, while others were in athletic gear. There were white-haired elderly, middle-aged people in their prime, energetic young adults, and a joyful young mother holding a baby just a few months old. “What a beautiful mix! This is what an appeal looks like!” I thought to myself. It’s a real pity I didn’t have a camera then to capture those precious scenes.
As they waited, some people practiced the Falun Gong exercises, some sat in the lotus position meditating, while others read Dafa books.
It grew warmer after mid-day. From time to time, we heard bursts of applause from the crowd in the front. As it turned out, then primer Zhu Rongji had invited Falun Gong representatives inside the Zhongnanhai compound for a consultation.
It was getting dark, and I suddenly remembered that I would be working overtime again the next day, so, reluctantly, I pushed through the crowd and made my way toward the bus station.
It was already dark. Would there be any buses running? Just as I started to get worried, I heard someone say, “Do you need a ride?” I turned around and saw a young man had stopped his small van just behind me. I felt very happy and relieved, and hopped into the van. But when I tried to pay for the ride, the young man wouldn’t accept any money. He said sincerely, “You must be a Falun Gong practitioner who came to appeal. You are all good people who follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It’s already late. I will take you home for free!”
So many years have past, but I still recall the lady who shared her seat with me. She must still look young and beautiful. She would be in her 80s now. The baby the young mother was holding must have grown into a beautiful young lady or a handsome young man. They must be walking steadily on the path of cultivation. What is the young man who drove me home for free doing these days? Maybe he and his family started practicing Falun Dafa long ago, too.
Memories of those moments come flooding back, filling my heart with waves of warmth. And yet, I didn’t even ask anyone for their name or address. So unforgettable, and I miss them all.
Copyright © 1999-2025 Minghui.org. All rights reserved.
The world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Your donation can help more people learn about Falun Dafa. Minghui is grateful for your support.
Support Minghui
