(Minghui.org) For the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the spiritual practice Falun Dafa to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi, Mayor Mark L. Smiley of the City of Rochester, Indiana, recently issued a proclamation declaring May 13, 2012, as Falun Dafa Day Honoring Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. Mayor Smiley commended Falun Dafa practitioners’ determination and courage to stand up for Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance while facing severe persecution from the Chinese Communist Party. Below is the text of the proclamation.

City of Rochester

Proclamation for Falun Dafa Twentieth Anniversary

Whereas: Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) is a high-level body-mind-spirit cultivation practice consisting of exercise, meditation and teachings guided by the characteristics of the universe – Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance; and

Whereas: Falun Dafa, publicly introduced by Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992, is now practiced and cherished by over 100 million people in over 100 countries, and has received a plethora of honors; and

Whereas: Falun Dafa transcends cultural and racial boundaries and contributes to the universal dream of a peaceful, tolerant, and more compassionate society; and

Whereas: More men and women of USA are learning the practice and purifying their hearts, energizing their bodies, and striving to create virtuous communities; and

Whereas: Falun Dafa practitioners in Indiana note stress reduction, health improvement and spiritual growth; and

Whereas: Numerous practitioners of Falun Dafa are persecuted in China for their teachings; and

Wherea: Falun Dafa practitioners' determination and courage to stand up for Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance while facing severe persecution from the Chinese Communist Party has shown the world the value of life and the preciousness of human dignity; and

Whereas: On March 16, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 605 urging the Chinese Communist Party to end its decade-long campaign against Falun Dafa and expressing solidarity with victims of persecution in China; and

Whereas: This May 13^th will mark the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the spiritual practice Falun Dafa to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi.

Now, Therefore, I, Mark L. Smiley, Mayor of the City of Rochester, Indiana, Do Proclaim May 13, 2012 as

Falun Dafa Day

Honoring Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance

In testimony thereof, I have there unto set

my hand on this 4^th day of May,2012.

Mark L. Smiley, Mayor