Falun Gong outside China

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In a candlelight vigil remembering those who were allegedly tortured to death in China for practicing Falun Dafa, over 1,000 practitioners and supporters of Falun Dafa sit in formation of the Chinese characters for "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance" next to the Washington Monument in Washington, DC

1 Protests
- 1.1 April 2006 Hu Visit Protests
2 Parades
3 Distribution of printed media
4 Proclamations
- 4.1 Saskatoon City and Falun Gong
5 Rejected
6 References

[edit] Protests

After the government of the People's Republic of China began its persecution of Falun Gong in mainland China in 1999, protests, rallys, and appeals have become some of the most visible forms in which Falun Gong practitioners manifest outside of mainland China. Protests are frequent, some daily, and happen around the world.

Falun Gong supporters in Vancouver, Canada continue to stage what they claim is the world's longest-running continuous protest against PRC's treatment of Falun Gong practitioners.^[1] However, in June 2006, it was announced by the mayor of Vancouver that the protest signs and structure must be taken down, as they violate a by-law against building permanent structures on public property, and have done so for five years already.^[2] The protesters refused to comply and the city was seeking for a court injunction.^[3] The Falun Gong protesters have opposed to the injunction and accused Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan of being "manipulated by the strings of China" ^[4]. The protest, which runs twenty-four hours a day, is located at the entrance to the PRC Consulate on Granville Street.

There are also similar protests being staged in front of the PRC Embassy in London, New York, and other cities worldwide. The Hong Kong Government allows nearly continuous demonstrations. Demonstrations usually take place in tourist areas.

Faking torture in New York City.

Falun Gong practitioners are often seen on the streets in major metropolitan areas, directly informing the public of the treatment their fellow practitioners in China. In many Western cities (particularly Manhattan, New York City) several elaborate streetside demonstrations have been staged that portray scenes of alleged government brutality. Amidst these public displays are signs with simple slogans, such as "Falun Dafa is Good" and "Bring Jiang to Justice."

The publication, Epoch Times, distributed for free in metropolitan areas in the US, Canada, and Australia often carries articles pertaining to the persecution in mainland China. Sound of Hope, a radio station broadcasting to mainland China as well as Western countries, and a TV station named New Tang Dynasty are operated mostly by Falun Gong practitioners.

[edit] April 2006 Hu Visit Protests

During the April 20, 2006, welcoming ceremonies outside the White House for Chinese president Hu Jintao, which opened his official visit to the capitol, a Falun Gong supporter repeatedly interrupted the event by shouting in the English and Chinese languages. Because she was stationed atop a grandstand and blocked on all sides by camera equipment and ladders, it took at least two minutes for Secret Service agents to drag her away. They later identified the woman as Wang Wenyi, a reporter for The Epoch Times.^[5]

"President Bush, stop him from persecuting the Falun Gong!" she shouted at one point, followed by "Hu, your days are numbered", in Chinese. She was also heard yelling "Stop the torture and killings!" and "Falun Dafa is good". During her protests, she unfurled and waved a yellow and red Falun Gong banner.^{[citation needed]}

On April 21, Wang was charged with a federal misdemeanor of harassing a foreign official, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of $5,000. She was released without bail pending further proceedings.^[6]

Also during Hu's visit in Washington, D.C., hundreds of banner-waving protesters demonstrated against Hu's visit outside the White House gates. The clamor was heard faintly during an elaborate lunch Bush gave in Hu's honor.^{[citation needed]}

On April 21, Hu was also followed by hundreds of protesters during his Yale University visit on April 21, 2006. Around 2,400 signatures from Yale faculty and students condemning organ-harvesting were collected by the Yale Falun Gong club and delivered to university officials.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Parades

Image:Parade1.jpg

On April 10, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners staged a "Journey of Fa-Rectification" grand parade in Manhattan's Chinatown.

Another form in which Falun Gong has gained attention outside of China is through parades. Falun Gong parades usually incorporate traditional-style Chinese dances, vibrant costumes, song, exercise demonstrations, traditional-style Chinese drumming, floats, and banners. Practitioners sometimes call this "bringing people the beauty of Dafa".^[7] Another style of Falun Gong parade is done as a form spreading awareness about and protesting the Chinese Government's persecution. This type of parade may sometimes be called a march. In this style of parade, participants often hold signs and banners, with different sections of the parade devoted to different aspects of the persecution. There is usually a section involving participants wearing only white (symbolizing mourning) and holding pictures of practitioners who have been killed during the persecution. Floats are also incorporated, but carry much darker themes; including live representations of torture and organ-harvestings. Falun Gong parades often involve a combination of both styles. One parade of this type that took place in New York City in April 2004 was called “The Journey of Fa-Rectification - Grand Parade portraying the History of Falun Gong and a Bright Future.” ^[8] While the latter style is usually only done independently, Falun Gong practitioners have participated in numerous holiday and festival parades worldwide using the "beauty" style, and have won numerous awards.^[9]

Parades range in participation. Some parades may consist of only a few dozen practitioners, such as a 2003 parade in Banff, Canada,^[10] while others have consisted of as many as fifteen thousand according to Falun Gong figures, such as a 2006 parade in Taipei, Taiwan.^[11]

[edit] Distribution of printed media

An example of a newspaper distributed freely. This part of the newspaper highlights the alleged persecution of Falun Gong

Printed media such as leaflets and newsletters, highlighting the alleged persecution of Falun Gong and their principles and practices, are also distributed such as in the image shown to the right.

[edit] Proclamations

[edit] Saskatoon City and Falun Gong

Saskatoon city, located in central Saskatchewan province, Canada, declared the week of April 23-29 Falun Gong Week in 2001.^{[citation needed]} This created conflict between the PRC government and the city council of Saskatoon, resulting in the PRC consulate for Western Canada chastising Saskatoon for its declaration, calling Falun Gong a “heretic cult.” However, City council went ahead with the proclamation after then-mayor Jim Maddin spoke to a senior consular official in Calgary and said the city would not change its position just because the PRC government disagreed.^{[citation needed]}

Five years after the issue on the declaration of Falun Gong week in 2001, Donald J. Atchison, the Mayor of Saskatoon remarked his hesitation to agree to a request to declare May Falun Gong Month at the city council meeting in May 8th 2006. “I just find this one a political statement,” said Atchinson. He explained to the council that the last time he issued a proclamation for Falun Gong it caused some inflammatory comments from the government of the PRC, and he did not want to issue a proclamation that might invite international controversy. He was also concerned that it might violate the city’s policy on proclamations. There is inside criticism over his hesitation for the proclamation. Tiffany Paulsen, who is the member of council, criticized Atchinson’s remark that the city council would be going down a “very slippery slope” if it started resisting proclamations based on subjective moral judgments.^{[citation needed]}

The request for declaring May Falun Gong Month was presented by Danny Zieglar, a Regina resident and Falun Gong practitioner. His request is on behalf of the group’s national organization. The group has asked for a similar proclamation in Regina, Canada.^{[citation needed]}Falun Gong Week and Month have already been declared in other cities and provinces in Canada, and the U.S.A. such as Armstrong, British Columbia, Rock Island, Illinois, and South Miami, Florida.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, the Falun Gong Association of Canada won an award for its float in Saskatoon’s Exhibition parade.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Rejected

Jakarta Chinatown (Glodok), Indonesia are rejected any kind falungong activity after several clash and ancident with falungong activity in they area.^[12]