(Clearwisdom.net) On May 10, 2010, the Council of the City of Philadelphia, PA, issued the following citation recognizing and celebrating the 2010 World Falun Dafa Day. The citation stated: "the Council of the City of Philadelphia joins the Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association in support of the endurance and sacrifice of Falun Gong Practitioners in China. Their universal message to improve human rights, moral reconstruction and the health and well being of all people is a message embraced by all Philadelphians. We extend to them the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body."

City Council

City of Philadelphia

Citation

Recognizing and Celebrating

World Falun Dafa Day

The Council of the City of Philadelphia is pleased and proud to join Falun Dafa practitioners in the Greater Philadelphia area and in 114 countries to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2010 which marks the 18^th Anniversary of Mr. Li Hongzhi first teaching Falun Gong in public.

Whereas, Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline, which consists of moral teachings for daily life. Practitioners believe that a pure and balanced mind reenergizes the body, and leads to enhanced health and happiness. Millions of people in more than one hundred countries practice Falun Dafa a peaceful meditation practice. Cultivators of Falun Dafa strive to cultivate their xinxing (mind-nature, or character) and remove their attachments to become kinder, more honest and more patient people; and

Whereas, This July 20^th will mark the 11^th year of the Chinese Communist regime's ongoing persecution of the popular spiritual practice of Falun Gong. On March 16, 2010, the United States House of Representatives passed House Resolution 605, recognizing the continued persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China on the 10^th Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party campaign to suppress the Falun Gong spiritual movement and calling for an immediate end to the campaign to persecute, intimidate, imprison, and torture Falun Gong practitioners; and

Whereas, Falun Gong is both art and craft. It is peaceful and stresses the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. It is rooted deep in the Chinese culture, and is connected to a tradition of physical exercise and meditation. It is a life-enriching practice. We especially honor those who have been subjected to inhumane treatment in China, where its practitioners number in the tens of millions. We commemorate the thousands of Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their lives in the peaceful defense of human rights and freedom of belief, and to call for an end to the repression in China, and for the hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong adherents still languishing in labor camps.

Therefore, By virtue of this Citation, the Council of the City of Philadelphia joins the Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association in support of the endurance and sacrifice of Falun Gong Practitioners in China. Their universal message to improve human rights, moral reconstruction and the health and well being of all people is a message embraced by all Philadelphians. We extend to them the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

Jannie L. Blackwell

Councilwoman, 3^rd District

Anna C. Verna, President

5/10/10