Philadelphia City Council Members Attend Falun Dafa 11th Anniversary Celebration (Photos)
(Clearwisdom.net May 19,2003) Around noon on May 15, 2003, Falun Dafa practitioners from the Greater Philadelphia Area celebrated the 11th Anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction to the public in Philadelphia's City Hall. The purpose of the event was to also thank the Mayor and other government officials for their support for Falun Dafa.
City Councilman David Cohen attended the celebration: "I have to admit that today is the first day I have learned about Falun Dafa, but I'm always prepared to celebrate with people who participate in increasing freedom of human beings and in fighting everywhere in the world for the right of people to live a full life, free from persecution and in a way that enables them to develop their best abilities." "If my knowledge is sound, I believe that China is the largest or the second largest country in the world by way of population, something like a billion people, and there is great persecution there, and it's important that it be corrected." "We wish you well, and anything the Office of City Council can do on your behalf, we'll be happy to do."
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| Councilman David Cohen gives a speech | Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania's Chief of Staff, Flavia Colgan speaks | The Mayor's Executive Assistant Dr. Nancy Morgan, representing the Mayor |
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| Famous musician Chen Rutang and his family perform for the event | A little practitioner demonstrates the exercises |
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania's Chief of Staff, Flavia Colgan expressed respect for Falun Dafa practitioners. "The courageous acts of those who practice Falun Dafa should be an inspiration to all of us and a reminder as to how truly important it is to continue to steadfastly pursue the qualities and ideals that Falun Dafa embodies of tolerance, compassion, and truthfulness. Their continued peaceful resistance, to the extreme and harsh persecution and oppression that the communist party has so unjustly thrust upon them is sad but should serve as an impetus for all of us to continue to use our voices and our spirits to educate those around us." Next, she presented and read a proclamation to Falun Dafa from the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Mayor's Executive Assistant Dr. Nancy Morgan, representing the Mayor, congratulated us on having the event. Congressman Joseph Hoeffel also sent a congratulatory letter.
Professor Shiyu Zhou of Rutgers University talked about Falun Dafa's origins and its spreading around the world after 1992, because of its magnificent health benefits and its principles that teach people to be good. In only 12 years, it has spread to over 50 countries, and over 100 million people practice the exercises. Because of Jiang's jealousy and irrational fear of his power being challenged, he launched the brutal persecution against the kind people who cultivate "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance". Mr. Zhou thanked the Mayor, City Council and all levels of governments for their support over the past three years.
Dr. Yang Jingduan of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital shared his experiences of moral improvement and told how he quit smoking and drinking alcohol after practicing Falun Dafa. His elder sister Yang Jingfang is still in prison because of practicing Falun Dafa, and he hoped the government would continue to support the rescue effort. He said Dr. Xu Cailu's wife, Ms. Jia Xiaomei, was released recently, after all levels of government officials became involved in the rescue effort. This is a very good example that has been set.
Falun Dafa practitioners and famous musician Mr. Chen Rutang, his wife and daughter performed "Pudu" and "Celebration" for the event. Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated the exercises.