October 21, 2001

WORCESTER-- Four Massachusetts residents who engage in the practice of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, visited the city yesterday as part of a walk from Boston to Pittsfield, which they hope will raise awareness of the persecution of fellow Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Falun Gong was introduced in China in 1992 by founder Li Hongzhi. Practitioners engage in certain exercises and meditation, and try to improve the inner self through reading related books and through self-examination.

The four walkers, Michael A. Tsang and Xiuling Zhou, both of Boston, Shu-Chun Tan of Cambridge and Liu Shupin of Revere, along with volunteers who also practice Falun Gong, held a press conference yesterday afternoon behind City Hall. They told passers-by and onlookers that Chinese citizens who want to live according to the principles of Falun Gong are being violently persecuted by their government.

Mr. Tsang said this is because the Chinese XX Party sees these principles -- truthfulness, compassion and tolerance -- as a threat.

Mr. Tsang, who has practiced Falun Gong for four years, said practitioners have been persecuted in China since July 1999.

"The atrocity is not very well known in the United States," he said. "It's very severe in China. (We're walking) to let people know what's happening in China."

Mr. Tsang said the practice of Falun Gong has helped cure his chronic fatigue syndrome and that stories like his are quite common. Ms. Tan said her six years of practicing Falun Gong has helped her with heart problems, diabetes and menopause.

The walk to Pittsfield is the first part of two walks in Massachusetts. The second walk will be from Newburyport to New Bedford.

Practitioners said other walks are being held throughout the country and in Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia, as part of the "SOS! Global Rescue Walk" launched by Falun Gong practitioners from around the world.