(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong has been suppressed in China for 5 years. Throughout these years, practitioners in China have experienced brutal persecution; however, their determined faith in "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance" is unshakable. In order to let more people know about Falun Gong and the persecution in China, Falun Gong practitioners held a one-week anti-torture exhibition at various locations in Washington, D.C. before July 20, 2004.
Anti-torture exhibition
The anti-torture exhibition is a way that Falun Gong practitioners have recently used to expose the persecution of Falun Gong by Jiang's regime. It presents to the public the brutality that Falun Gong practitioners have been experiencing in China. The spectators are shocked upon seeing it.
In May 2004, Falun Gong practitioners started a large-scale anti-torture exhibition for the first time during the Chicago experience-sharing conference, which was very effective. While feeling sympathetic for Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in China, people encouraged practitioners to hold more anti-torture exhibitions so that more people could come to know what is really happening.
During a one-week period in Washington, D.C., practitioners held anti-torture exhibitions every day in two or three places with crowds such as the Lincoln Memorial, Lafayette Square, the Capitol Hill Lawn, Dupont Circle, etc. The exhibited torture methods included Driving in Bamboo Sticks, Tiger Bench, Dead Person's Bed, forced-feeding, cuffing, caging, pressing hard, electrical shocking, burning, hanging, dragging. (1) These torture methods were accompanied by posters with detailed illustrations and cases.
Voice of practitioners
It was very hot in July in Washington, D.C. Although the torture exhibition just reenacted the torture taking place in China and was much less severe compared to the real situation; still the volunteers sacrificed tremendously under the burning sun for the exhibition.
Because most young practitioners needed to go to work, many volunteers for the exhibition were seniors who were in their 60s or 70s.
Practitioner Mr. Fang is 71 years old. And this is the fourth consecutive day that he had participated in the torture exhibition in reenacting various kinds of torture. He said that it was very painful to act as if being tortured under the burning sun. If he had not practiced Falun Gong, it would be far beyond what he could bear. Even though it was so uncomfortable, he still continued, because the torture exhibition has been effective in truth-clarification, and has greatly helped people to know the facts about Falun Gong being persecuted. Mr. Fang said Falun Gong was so good; however, Jiang insisted on suppressing it. Moreover, Jiang fabricated stories to incite hatred towards Falun Gong. Mr. Fang wanted to tell people that Falun Gong is good so that people can also benefit from it. After kind people come to know the truth, they will extend help to end the persecution sooner. Therefore, it was worth it, no matter how uncomfortable it was.
Practitioner Aunt Sun is 70 years old. She had been participating in the torture exhibition for several days. She said it was very painful to act as a persecuted Falun Gong practitioner. It was not just physical pain, but thinking of the suffering of practitioners in China also hurt. She took the Tiger Bench as an example. It was a very painful torture method, and she already felt very bad after sitting like that for one hour during the exhibition. However, in China her cousin Yang Jingfang was forced to sit on the Tiger Bench for 38 days because of practicing Falun Gong. Even under this brutality, Yang Jingfang did not give up her belief in Falun Gong's principle of "Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance." Ms. Sun said it was hard to act like she was being persecuted, but she was still willing to do that because it was a good way for people to learn the truth. There were so many Falun Gong practitioners in China who were severely persecuted; however, many people did not know about it. Through the torture exhibition, the situation changed. There were also some Chinese people passing by, and they shed tears upon seeing this.
Among the practitioners participating in the torture exhibition, some were from Taiwan, who came to attend the events around July 20 in Washington, D.C. Ms. Yu is a 51-year-old teacher, who started practicing Falun Gong 7 months ago. She was also one of the volunteers acting as persecuted practitioners. Ms. Yu said Falun Gong was very good. For example, her temper and mood improved dramatically since starting the practice. She also let go of many attachments and came to have a happier life. Ms. Yu said, "We have had plenty of events calling to end the persecution. However, some people still do not understand us, and do not know what we are appealing for. The torture exhibition helps people to know more about this. Jiang surely fears our torture exhibitions, because what the evil is afraid of most is being exposed."
People are shocked and start to condemn the viciousness
People were shocked upon seeing the torture exhibition, and they began to look for more information. Some were thinking of a way to end the persecution, and some asked how to they could help. There were some who asked friends and colleagues to come to see, and some wanted to start the practice. Aside from learning about the brutal torture, many people started to respect Falun Gong practitioners for their perseverance in their belief even under such extreme situations.
After being moved by the torture exhibition, a 90-year-old woman immediately called a newspaper asking them to come to report on this.
After learning that Falun Gong practitioners had been persecuted by Jiang's regime for their belief in "Truth, Compassion and Tolerance," an African-American woman hugged a practitioner for a long time and offered her blessings.
An American who originally came from Vietnam told the practitioners, "You have done very well. These crimes need to be exposed so that more people will truly know what is happening!"
A delegation from Kenya was passing by, and they asked practitioners what was going on. They were shocked by the brutality that Jiang's regime had used against Falun Gong. One parliament member went back to get a camera to take some pictures.
A reporter from Radio Free Asia for the Tibetan Program also came to interview us, hoping to let more Tibetan people come to know the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong.
A college student said she was very interested in Falun Gong. Although she had not practiced yet, she wanted to help practitioners oppose the persecution. Right after that, she went to a bookstore nearby and purchased Falun Gong books.
The anti-torture exhibition was very effective in clarifying the truth because it reflected the enormous suffering that Falun Gong practitioners have been experiencing in China. What was more impressive, however, is not the bloody torture but the Falun Gong practitioners' righteous belief--as solid as rock--throughout this 5-year brutal persecution.
(1) For a detailed description of these and other forms of torture used on Falun Gong practitioners in China, see, http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/11/24/16156.html)
July 22, 2004
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