(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the California State Capitol at noon on July 14 to show support for the recent surge of criminal complaints against Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Chinese Communist regime, for persecuting Falun Gong since 1999.

According to a recent tally published on the Minghui website, over 60,000 complaints have been filed with the Beijing Supreme People's Court and the People's Supreme Procuratorate since May 2015.

Practitioners hold a rally outside the California State Capitol

State Senator: We Will Not Give up

“I'm proud to stand here with you to call for an end to the 16-year-long persecution of those who practice Falun Gong,” said Rebecca Kurtz on behalf of State Senator Joel Anderson.

She continued, “It is an honor and privilege to participate in this very important rally, which addresses basic human rights and our God-given right to be free from government oppression.

“Hundreds of thousands in China are forced into labor camps, tortured, experimented on and even murdered for practicing their beliefs that are based on the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.”

Ms. Kurtz said that some California practitioners and their family members in China have been targets of harassment and attacks. She stated, “It is heartbreaking to witness such cruel treatment of other human beings and it must end.”

“Thank you for gathering here to make our voice loud and clear to end the persecution of the Falun Gong practice,” Ms. Kurtz concluded. “We will not give up this fight until every single Falun Gong practitioner is free from government persecution.”

Torture, Imprisonment, and a Broken Family

Xu Jiamei, lecturer at a teacher's college, holding a copy of the criminal complaint she recently filed against Jiang Zemin.

Three practitioners spoke about their suffering from the persecution. Xu Jiamei, senior lecturer at a teacher's college, was arrested a second time for her belief at the age of 73.

“The guards and inmates mistreated me because I wanted to do the Falun Gong exercises. They handcuffed me to metal bars and forced me to stay barefoot outdoors during a zero-degree winter for two days,” she said.

Ms. Xu's blood pressure and heart rate rose when “seven inmates pulled and dragged me. They threw me back and forth, causing me to lose consciousness, and I was close to death.” She also was held in a small metal cage and deprived access to a toilet.

Her family also suffered because of the suppression. “Officials forced my 90-year-old mother and my son to come to the prison and demand that I give up my belief.”

Ms. Xu's mother and husband died as a result of the relentless pressure and harassment of the persecution.

Passersby reading posters about the suppression and lawsuits against Jiang Zemin

Wu Yun, employee of an airline company, was also arrested for her belief. She said, “The 610 Office pressured my husband until he divorced me.”

Ms. Wu recounted, “My son, who was 12, saw 6 armed police officers arresting me at home. He was left unattended after my arrest.”

She described the prison as a place of torture and humiliation. "I slept less than one yard away from the toilet. Every day, dozens of people used the toilet,” she said.

Former lawyer Lu Zhengwei and his mother both suffered as a result of the suppression.

Lu Zhengwei, a former lawyer in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, also spoke at the rally. “When my mother had a stroke and needed help, I was detained because of my belief. In fact, she did not know where I was detained.”

During the secret detention, Mr. Lu was tortured. He was in poor health upon his release. “My mother did not complain. Instead, she asked me to stay away from home and said 'Son, don't let those bad people find you again. The further away you flee, the better.'”

His mother later died and Mr. Lu feels that her death was directly related to the suppression. “I was unable to take care of my mother when she needed me. This tragedy was caused by Jiang Zemin. That is why I filed a criminal complaint and that is why I charged him with crimes against humanity.”

The Persecution Must Stop

Tony, who stopped at the rally and learned about the persecution, said, “The persecution [of Falun Gong] is totally wrong and it must stop.”