(Clearwisdom.net ) On September 4, 2003, the Council of the City of Wilmington, Delaware, reserved that the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners in China be supported, that persecution cease and that prisoners held unlawfully be freed.

City of Wilmington, Delaware

City Council

September 4, 2003

SPONSORS: Council President Theodore Blunt

Council Member Theopalis K. Gregory

Whereas, Falun Gong is a peaceful cultivation and practice system to improve people's minds and bodies. With 100 million practitioners in over 40 countries, the core principles of Falun Gong are truthfulness, compassion and tolerance; and

Whereas, in China, the number of known deaths from torture have reached 630. So far, tens of thousands of people have been tortured while confined in labor camps, prisons and mental hospitals, and hundreds of thousands forced to attend brainwashing classes; and

Whereas, women in particular have been the target of numerous forms of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault and forced abortion; and

Whereas, several United States citizens and permanent residents have been imprisoned, tortured and subjected to arbitrary detention; and

Whereas, the campaign of persecution has been carried out by government officials and state police and has permeated every village and every level of government in China. The international community as a whole should address this situation of human rights violations as one of extreme urgency.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the council of the city of Wilmington, that the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners in China be supported, that persecution cease and that prisoners held unlawfully be freed.

(Signature)

City Clerk

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(Signature)

Assistant City Solicitor