(Clearwisdom.net) The Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore and Councilman of the New York Assembly, James Tedisco, is concerned about the Falun Gong practitioners who were surrounded and beaten by a group of Chinese, led by pro-communist leader Guanjun Liang in New York's Chinatown.

In a letter dated August 13, 2003 to Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the New York Assembly, Mr. Tedisco said: "We cannot idly sit back and tacitly permit human rights violations and hate crimes to occur in our own back yard."

He said: "On behalf of the Falun Gong practitioners in my Assembly District and around the world, I am asking that the Assembly, through a Resolution, formally condemn anyone and any government officials who direct or commit an act of violence against Falun Gong. In addition, I would ask that you contact the Chinese consular officials in New York to express your outrage over the civil and human rights violations against people involved in peaceful demonstrations."

On August 8, 2003, Mr. Tedisco wrote to Chinese Consular Yao Yao Chen. He wrote: "This is not the first incident of violence against Falun Gong practitioners in the United States, and I am deeply concerned that this action may have been condoned by the Chinese government, or at least by certain government officials opposed to the practice of Falun Gong. As an elected state representative, I cannot idly sit by while human rights violations and crimes continue to occur in our own back yard."

He asks the Chinese consul to take the necessary steps to ensure that Falun Gong practitioners be allowed to participate in legal activities without fear of violence.