[News from Newark, Delaware] On September 9th, 2000, more than 40 Falun Gong practitioners from Delaware, the Great Philadelphia Area, Washington D.C, Baltimore, and New Jersey celebrated Newark Falun Dafa Day at Delcastle Recreation Area, Delaware.
A few days earlier, Harold Godwin, Mayor of Newark, Delaware, had proclaimed Sep. 9, 2000 as Falun Dafa Day' in the city of Newark to recognize the extraordinary contribution made by Master Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa to society. In the proclamation, he said: "Falun Dafa has touched the lives of over 100 million people in more than 30 countries, improved their physical and mental health, and deepened their understandings of life, humanity, and universe."
In the ceremony, one of the practitioners said: "The profound principles of Falun Dafa have touched the souls of millions. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' has awakened their innate goodness and has changed their lives." He also pointed out: "The unbelievable rate at which Falun Dafa became popular threatened some leaders in the Chinese government. They have been using all kinds of excuses and means to crack down upon Falun Dafa." He expressed his deepest respect for the practitioners in China who are persisting in their cultivation under such difficult circumstances. He also appealed to the Chinese government to stop persecuting Falun Dafa.
Afterwards, practitioners from the area gave their congratulations to this event. One practitioner from New Jersey with a medical background gave a short presentation on his cultivation experience. After the ceremony, practitioners did a group practice. Practitioners also distributed materials about Falun Dafa to both Chinese and Westerners in the area to further clarify the truth that the Chinese government has attempted to hide.