In order to show the spirit of Falun Dafa to governments and people all over the world, to call upon their support to help stop the Chinese Government's persecution of Falun Gong, around 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners from 30 US states and around the world gathered peacefully to appeal in New York at the opening of the United Nations' Millennium Summit.
During several days recently, Falun Gong practitioners carried out a series of activities. Wearing yellow T-shirts; they appeared on big avenues and little streets, places of interest and all kinds of situations with crowds in New York. Practitioners in yellow T-shirts were present in front of the United Nations' building, residence of the Chinese delegation for the United Nations', the Chinese Consulate, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel where visiting presidents from every country were residing, Javits Exhibition Center, and all places where the President of China would appear. They were peaceful and polite in all locations. As long as people requested, they would hand out Falun Gong flyers to them and tell them about the principle of "Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance" and the abuse Falun Gong practitioners receive in China. They practiced calmly and serenely. Nothing could disturb them. They abided by local government regulations, obeyed and cooperated with policemen on duty without any over-zealous approach or force. All their activities, including the appeal from these one to two thousand people, were totally peaceful, which did not affect anyone. All large media agencies in New York reported objectively about Falun Gong activities during these recent days. New Yorkers accepted Falun Gong. "Peaceful" is how they know Falun Gong.
Falun Gong practitioners wore T-Shirts wherever they went. During these days, in other people's eyes, yellow T-shirts were the symbol of a Falun Gong practitioner. The kind people got to know Falun Gong. They showed their concern and support for Falun Gong. When Falun Gong appealed in front of the United Nations' building, one American woman first stood in front of the practitioners' exercise formation, and then she sat among the practitioners to practice meditation with them. After that she wanted to get a T-shirt to show her support and kept it as a souvenir. After one rock' n' roll singer read Falun Gong materials, he sympathized with Falun Gong's situation in China. He wanted to get a T-shirt and said he would wear this T-shirt to perform on stage in order to call on more people to stop the Chinese Government's suppression of Falun Gong. A lot of policemen have deepened their understanding of Falun Gong, after they had contact with Falun Gong practitioners. They not only provided lots of services for Falun Gong activities but also asked for Falun Gong materials. One policeman said to the practitioners, "During these several days, among all the demonstrating groups, I found the Falun Gong group in yellow T-shirts have the highest population, but you are very calm and easy to supervise. It is great for you all to express your ideas here. I hope you can persevere. Wish you success. " Some policemen also wanted to get a T-shirt. A policeman said to a practitioner, "Could you give me a T-shirt, I want to wear it to support you when I am off duty. " After their job requirements were met by practitioners, they were all very happy.
A practitioner in a yellow T-shirt happened to see New York Mayor Giuliani. After the Mayor saw the appeal printed on the yellow T-shirt, "CHINA: STOP PERSECUTING FALUN GONG", he said to the practitioner, "You are doing the right thing. "
At all the places for Falun Gong activities, a yellow T-shirt was the pass. Without a yellow T-shirt, policemen would make you show your pass, which made some people with evil ideas try to find a way to get a yellow T-shirt. A man who wanted to lurk in the Falun Gong group, shouted, "I have practice Falun Great Gong for a long time. Why not give me a yellow T-shirt? " A practitioner nearby corrected him, "It is not Falun Great Gong but Falun Dafa. " The person left shamefully.
Some even feared Falun Gong practitioners' activities. Through a bulletproof window, the Chinese President saw the words "CHINA: STOP PERSECUTING FALUN GONG" printed on a yellow T-shirt on a Falun Gong practitioner. After that, wherever Falun Gong practitioners in yellow T-shirts appeared where he would pass, the policemen would suffer pressure from the Chinese Delegation. Therefore, Falun Gong practitioners were informed that they could not wear yellow T-shirts at some places. The same situation occurred in the exhibition hall of "A Closer look at China" in the Javits Center, someone even interrogated a person who was in a T-shirt with a similar yellow color.
However, Falun Gong has entered New Yorkers' hearts. It is spreading well around the world. During these days, all the New Yorkers know the yellow T-shirts, Falun Gong practitioners, and the peacefulness of Falun Gong. Yellow T-shirts decorated New York as yellow T-shirts were everywhere in New York.
New York Practitioners
September 8, 2000
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Journeys of Cultivation
