(Clearwisdom.net) When a Chinese delegation from Shanghai, composed of 50 people led by Shanghai's mayor visited Houston, Texas, Falun Gong practitioners called for the delegation to "Join us to stop the persecution of Falun Gong."

Clarifying the truth to Houston city government officials

Upon hearing that Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng would lead a delegation to Houston for three days beginning on March 31, 2005, Houston practitioners first clarified the truth to Houston city government officials. Two practitioners met with officials from the Houston city government, including the assistant to the mayor, Ms. Tan Jiayu, and the director of the public relations department, Mr. Frank Mick. The practitioners requested that the officials deliver a message to the Shanghai mayor on behalf of Falun Gong practitioners: 1) they requested to meet with and have a dialogue with the Shanghai mayor; 2) they called for the release of Huang Xiong who has been missing after being abducted by Shanghai police for practicing Falun Gong; and 3) they requested the release of Shanghai human rights lawyer, Guo Guoting, detained for defending Falun Gong practitioners. The practitioners also requested that the Houston government officials deliver some materials to the Shanghai mayor on their behalf. The materials included the following information:

Information from Falun Gong practitioner Huang Wanqing from Atlanta on the rescue efforts for his younger brother Huang Xiong, who has been missing after being abducted by Shanghai police.

Cases of torture deaths of Falun Gong practitioners in Shanghai.

Facts about the atrocities committed by the Shanghai Women's Forced Labor Camp in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

List of names of the major responsible persons, including former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, who have been sued by Falun Gong practitioners from many countries for their role in the persecution.

Special announcement from the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong concerning the investigation of officials in the Shanghai Judicial Bureau who have participated in the persecution of lawyer Guo Guoting.

An article written by Shanghai lawyer Guo Guoting, entitled, "Chinese lawyers' helplessness - On the Shanghai Prison authorities' violation of the law and refusal (for 90 days) of defense lawyer to meet with Qu Yanlai." (Qu Yanlai is a Falun Gong practitioner who was arrested and sentenced to prison for persisting in his belief.)

Individual cases of Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of persecution in Shanghai (see photos below).

Lu Xingguo

Yang Xueqin

Ma Xinxing

Li Baifan

The officials of the Houston city government expressed that they would deliver these materials to the Shanghai mayor, and they also showed great concern for the plight of Mr. Guo Guoting, the Chinese human rights lawyer. Prior to the meetings, several practitioners in Houston spoke at a city council meeting on March 29, in the hopes that the mayor of Houston would uphold the spirit of Resolutions No. 188 and No. 304 passed by the United States Congress. Practitioners hoped he would take the opportunity presented by the meeting with the Shanghai mayor to express his concern over China's persecution of Falun Gong, and urge the relevant authorities to investigate those responsible for the persecution, to help end the persecution soon. Falun Gong practitioner Huang Wanqing from Atlanta entrusted a local practitioner to speak on his behalf at the city council meeting. He hoped that the mayor of Houston could directly raise his appeal to the mayor of Shanghai, to discover the whereabouts of his younger brother who has been missing after being abducted by Shanghai police, and to help gain his immediate and unconditional release.

Scenes of Shanghai Falun Gong practitioners' group practice prior to July 1999 when the persecution of Falun Gong began

Peaceful appeal in front of Intercontinental Hotel

On the evening of March 31, the morning of April 1 and the early morning of April 2, Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful appeal on the lawn outside the Intercontinental Hotel where the Shanghai delegation attended dinner and held an economic forum. Whether in the cold and windy night, or in the sunny daytime, practitioners distributed Falun Gong truth clarification materials, and held banners reading, "Rescue persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China," "China, stop persecuting Falun Gong," "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Zhou Yongkang and Liu Jing to justice," and "Support righteous human rights lawyer Guo Guoting."

Falun Gong practitioners Mr. Jin and Mrs. Jin, who participated in the activities, were probably the oldest ones there, but they were energetic and in high spirits. They have become more youthful after practicing Falun Gong. Mrs. Jin talked about why she and her husband took part in the peaceful appeal. She said, "Before practicing Falun Gong, my husband and I suffered from many ailments, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and other illnesses. We often took medicine, and spent much money on many medical fees, and we suffered a great deal. Our family members had often asked for leave to take care of us. After practicing Falun Gong, we became healthy, and felt happy and light, without illnesses. We have truly benefited both physically and spiritually. There are tens of thousands of cases like ours among Falun Gong practitioners. My husband and I came to take part in the peaceful appeal to express our concern: Falun Gong is good, and the principles of Falun Gong - Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance - enable people to be compassionate and to upgrade their moral standards, which is beneficial to individuals and society. We want to convey our message in this way to the Shanghai delegation, so they can bring the message back to China. Falun Gong is such a good cultivation practice; more people in China should be provided the opportunity to practice their belief and the right to cultivate. We hope to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. I also hope that the Shanghai delegation members learn Falun Dafa and practice Falun Gong if they wish to, and benefit tremendously like we and millions of other Falun Gong practitioners have."

Practitioner Ms. Tang said, "The Shanghai mayor led the delegation to visit Houston, and all the officials with him now have an opportunity to learn the truth about the persecution. Our peaceful appeal is to convey a message to the mayor of Shanghai and the delegation, with the hopes that they will bring the message back to China: we demand an investigation of the perpetrators who persecute Falun Gong. We request a dialogue with the mayor of Shanghai, and we call for the release Huang Xiong and lawyer Guo Gongting. We demand a stop to the persecution."

Shanghai is one of the three largest cities in China. Before the persecution of Falun Gong, the number of people who practiced Falun Gong in Shanghai was increasing daily. Large groups of people practicing Falun Gong were found along the famous Shanghai Beach. After July 20, 1999 when Jiang's regime began the persecution of Falun Gong, Falun Gong practitioners have been suffering the persecution. Though much information is blocked, cases of torture deaths have still been exposed to the outside world.

During the three-day visit of the Shanghai delegation, the delegation members saw the practitioners peacefully appealing. They saw the banners the practitioners held, and saw the truth-clarifying photos and materials displayed by practitioners. Even more importantly, they saw the peacefulness, rationality, benevolence, kindness, and tolerance the practitioners manifested. They have been learning the truth of Falun Gong.

"Join us to stop the persecution of Falun Gong," is not only the Houston practitioners' message to the Shanghai delegation; it is also the practitioners' call to people in China who are righteous and have a conscience.