(Minghui.org) “I just want everyone to know that in the United States Congress, a half mile from here, there is and remains bipartisan support for religious freedom, specifically to protect the practices of the Falun Gong,” Congressman Pat Ryan said at a rally in Washington DC on September 24, 2026.
Falun Gong practitioners and supporters rallied at the US Navy Memorial Plaza, located between the White House and the Capitol Building, to urge the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to end the 27-year persecution. The event coincided with the formal talks US President Donald Trump and CCP leader Xi Jinping held that day.
Congressman Ryan said he was proud to be a cosponsor of the Falun Gong Protection Act, a bipartisan legislation “with wide, strong support, signifying that the American people stand with and support the Falun Gong people in every dimension of your faith and your freedom.”
Falun Gong practitioners have received broad support from US officials and the general public (Minghui.org)
Since Falun Gong took root and flourished in the United States 31 years ago, and especially after the CCP publicly launched its persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, an increasing number of people including government officials from both political parties have expressed their support for practitioners.
Five Major Reasons
Publicly available information shows that various sectors in Washington, DC generally support and endorse Falun Gong practitioners, primarily based on the following five core considerations.
Safeguarding the Freedom of Religion or Belief
The Declaration of Independence states that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are “unalienable rights.” The First Amendment to the US Constitution also protects freedom of religion. Members of Congress and religious freedom organizations such as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have long considered promoting global religious freedom a core part of their foreign policy.
One of the Largest Persecuted Groups
According to international human rights reports and USCIRF records over the years, since 1999, Falun Gong practitioners have been one of the most severely and systematically persecuted and detained groups of people in mainland China. Therefore, paying attention to and supporting Falun Gong is an indispensable part of defending global religious freedom.
Opposing Brutal Human Rights Violations Such as the Crime of Forced Organ Harvesting
US officials and human rights organizations are highly concerned about allegations of systematic, state-supported live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, as forced organ harvesting is considered an extremely brutal and inhumane crime against humanity in normal societies.
The Universal Values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance
Many religious figures (including Christian pastors and other faith representatives), human rights advocates, and those concerned with freedom of religion and freedom of belief have observed that Falun Gong practitioners, together with its principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, promote moral elevation and peaceful rationality.
For 27 years, in the face of brutal illegal arrests, detentions, and torture, Falun Gong practitioners have demonstrated their resistance to persecution through peaceful means. This stands in stark contrast to the CCP’s campaign that aims to “eliminate Falun Gong” which is directed by the 610 Office. For example, former CCP leader Jiang Zemin once issued an order against practitioners to “ruin their reputation, bankrupt them financially, and eliminate them physically.” This has led many people worldwide who have a conscience and goodwill to realize that Falun Gong practitioners deserve support.
Upholding the Values of Democracy and Freedom
Many human rights groups and elected officials in Washington DC believe that basic human rights should not be compromised or sacrificed for economic, trade, or geopolitical interests in dealings with China. Supporting Falun Gong is not only directed at a specific group, but also about upholding the rule of law, dignity, and humanity’s bottom line.
Recognizing Falun Gong Practitioners’ Values and Conduct
US legislators, human rights advocates, and people who have long been concerned about religious freedom have spoken about the Falun Gong practitioners they know, and talked about their observations.
Although the interviewees came from different backgrounds, the Falun Gong practitioners they saw all shared common traits: kindness, sincerity, peace, concern for others, service to the community, and steadfastness in their faith.
“They’re always serving our community,” Congressman Ryan said about Falun Gong practitioners. “On a cultural level, Falun Gong practitioners are so similar to us, committed to freedom, to Truthfulness, Forbearance, and Compassion, values that we hold as Americans as well.
“They are wonderful people that make our community and our country stronger and better,” he added.
“The practitioners I’ve met have been very kind and very caring,” explained Nina Shea, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and Director of the Center for Religious Freedom, who has long focused on religious freedom issues. “They are optimistic and positive about their own way of life.”
Shea also admires Falun Gong practitioners for not focusing solely on their own experiences of persecution. She mentioned their activities, such as founding schools and organizing dance performances, saying, “I really admire how they don’t just focus on their victimhood, but try to put forward a positive vision of China and Chinese culture.”
Shea has seen Shen Yun performances numerous times. She said she really liked them and “enjoyed learning about the traditions and culture and arts of China before the Chinese Communist Party.”
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