(Minghui.org) Theater N in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A. screened State Organs, a 2025 Oscar-nominated documentary film, on November 9, 2024. A discussion session was held after the screening.
A discussion was held after the screening of the documentary State Organs in Theater N in downtown Wilmington, Delaware on November 9, 2024.
This film, directed by Peabody Award winner Raymond Zhang, tells the tragic story of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China, and focuses on the experiences of two families who search for their missing relatives.
Many attendees said they would write to their federal senators, asking them to pass the Falun Gong Protection Act to help stop the CCP’s atrocities. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June this year and is currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. The bill aims to sanction individuals and entities involved in live organ harvesting.
Retired lawyer Richard Kiger said that after watching the film, that the CCP’s atrocities were unbelievable. “What shocked me most was the cruelty of the CCP,” Richard said. “Imagine that a person’s organs were removed [while they are] alive, without even anesthesia. It’s heartbreaking that such a thing happened.”
Mr. Kiger said that he didn’t know about the scale of the organ harvesting before. “I didn’t know the numbers were so huge, and I didn’t know it had developed into an industry. It’s terrible. This film clearly shows that this is not only a tragedy, but a systematic, profit-driven industry that targets innocent people.”
He said it’s important to take immediate action. “I plan to write my senators and representatives in Congress. We can’t let history repeat itself—this is a new genocide,” Richard said. “As human beings, each of us should do something.”
The film also inspired him to learn more about the issue. “I’m keeping a record of future meetings and events. I think staying informed is the first step. I don’t know how much one person can do, but I believe every little bit counts. Even just talking to someone about what I learned today is a step in the right direction.”
Mr. Kiger said that the documentary will receive more recognition. “It is nominated for an Oscar for best documentary, and I hope it wins. That way it can have a huge impact around the world.”
“This is Modern Genocide”
Monica Johnson, a retired freight industry executive, said that watching the film was an experience she had never before had. “For me, it was a learning experience,” she said. “I like this documentary because it helps me understand the world. This film is different from anything I’ve seen before. You cannot say it’s delightful, but it’s enlightening. I’m glad I came to see it because I learned things I didn’t know.”
Ms. Johnson knew nothing about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and the organ harvesting. “I never heard of it before,” she said. “But now that I know, I will definitely tell my friends. People need to know this. This is a modern holocaust. This is not something that happened a hundred or two hundred years ago, but something that is happening in our time.”
What shocked Ms. Johnson the most in the film was the brutal atrocities. “These people were brutally killed just to harvest their organs, and behind all this was economic gain. This makes people extremely angry. What’s worse is that it’s not just about money, but also about suppressing their belief. They were killed just because they practiced Falun Gong.”
Monica also said she would take action. “I plan to start talking to my friends about this matter at dinner tonight. It is important to spread this information because if you learn something new from history, you should not keep it to yourself.”
When asked about her views on the infiltration of communism into the United States, she said, “I didn’t think much about it before, but this documentary gave me a new understanding of many things.”
“This Could Happen in Any Totalitarian Country”
Real estate agent Yasmin Bowman was deeply disturbed by the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. “I think the film is very well done,” she said. “It’s fascinating and thought-provoking. I had no idea that such things were happening on such a large scale. This systematic persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is terrifying.”
Ms. Bowman said that she had heard only sporadic reports about organ harvesting in the news before. “I knew it was a problem, but I didn’t know how widespread it was. The film makes it clear that this is not just a problem, but a large-scale, coordinated action. It’s simply a massacre.”
The loss of humanity shown in the film shocked Ms. Bowman. “What shocked me most was the cruelty—the complete disregard for the value of human life. These are peaceful people who practice to improve their health and mental state, but they are persecuted for it. When I think about how this level of inhuman crimes still exist and can happen in any totalitarian country, it makes people feel really scared.”
Ms. Bowman stressed the importance of raising public awareness. “I saw this event on Facebook ads and felt that I had to come. I hope more people can see this film and understand what is happening. This issue needs global attention, and films like this can help promote it.”
In addition to being shocked, Ms. Bowman was also motivated to take action. “I plan to contact the offices of Senators Coons and Carper. I will also do more research to learn more. I don’t know what else I can do now, but I know I can’t do nothing.”
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