(Minghui.org) The Rotary Club of Washington hosted a screening of the documentary film State Organs in the Westin Hotel ballroom, near the White House in Washington DC on the evening of October 3, 2025. Approximately 150 people attended, most were Rotary members from the greater Washington, DC area.
Amelia Stansell, the Vice Chair of Rotary Action Group Against Slavery, hosted the screening. Founded in 1905, Rotary is an international service organization with locations around the world. Its members, typically leaders from diverse professions, participate in weekly meetings to plan and execute service projects, fostering professional exchange, raising ethical standards, and fostering social well-being.
The documentary film State Organs was screened in the Westin Hotel on the evening of October 3, 2025
Amelia Stansell, the Vice Chair of Rotary Action Group Against Slavery and host of the screening
State Organs features interviews with family members and friends of Falun Gong practitioners who died in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution, witnesses who witnessed doctors harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners in China, and international independent investigators. The film exposes the CCP’s systematic state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting.
After the screening, a panel of media reporters, Falun Gong practitioners, doctors, and the film’s director answered questions from the audience. Some asked how they could help stop the CCP’s atrocities of forced organ harvesting, while others signed a petition urging federal legislators to help end the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. Many audience members said that when faced with the inhumane atrocities, everyone with a conscience should speak out and take action.
A Q&A session was held after the screening.
Attendees sign the petition calling to stop the CCP’s persecution.
People Condemn the CCP’s Forced Organ Harvesting
Ms. Stansell said that she learned about the CCP’s persecution during the Rotary Club International Convention in 2022. “I follow Christianity, and it [Falun Gong’s teachings] is very much a lot of what we have. And so, it’s like you start realizing, we all have the same heart, right? And it’s also one of the reasons I think it’s important…we need to take part in this, we’re humans. We’re all part of a brotherhood and sisterhood. And how can you just walk away and say, ‘They’re different than us, we don’t care about them.’”
She said this was the second time she’s watched the documentary. She previously saw it in Calgary, Canada and thought about what she could do after watching the film.
“I have 300 Rotarians talking about it and going back to their clubs. We have 100 clubs representatives. They’re going to back to their clubs and talk about the things they heard about. Maybe they’ll all host a screening. We have to take action and so this is my way of doing that.”
She said many people thanked her for bringing the message, “So I think that this definitely opens a lot of eyes and a lot of hearts.”
Andrew, an entrepreneur and member of the Virginia Rotary Club.
Andrew, an entrepreneur and member of the Virginia Rotary Club, said after watching the film that this was the first time he’d learned about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting. Although he has been following various sources of information, he was not familiar with the CCP’s atrocity.
Andrew said that the documentary’s depiction of organ harvesting is a humanitarian disaster, and anyone with a conscience could see this.
“There’s only so many things that can be concealed. People like the doctors and people like individuals that were able to escape from this persecution reveal the truth. And to me, it’s encouraging to hear that so many Chinese people are seeing this, and understanding this, and are moving away from that, even in their own quiet way. That’s where the change is really going to have to happen to make anything go right,” said Andrew.
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Great
Virginia resident Frank and his wife Sarah
“It was pretty eye-opening as a lot of information that I didn’t know about, a lot of stuff that I really don’t understand, what’s going on with the communist party. But, it’s just pretty horrendous, and they devalue people’s lives,” Frank said.
He said he previously heard of the CCP’s persecution but did not know it was so bad.
Frank said the message of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is very strong. He was touched to learn that the Falun Gong practitioners remain steadfast in their belief despite the persecution. “It’s amazing. It’s amazing to me that they can hang on to that level of conviction, and peace within themselves,” Frank said.
His wife Sarah said, “I hadn’t heard about it, it was very eye-opening.”
Frank said he hoped that the message could get out so more people, so they will learn about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution.
People Learn About the Persecution
Hande (left) and Jim from the Rockville Rotary Club in Maryland expressed their dismay after watching the film.
Hande and Jim from the Rockville Rotary Club in Maryland thanked the Rotary Club for hosting this very impactful event.
“I’m like, how was I blind, or how did I never hear about this? I consider myself someone who reads the news, and I get information from different sources. So this really disturbed me, but at the same time, it gave me a huge awareness, and willingness to do something and act, and talk about it, make more people to learn about it,” said Hande.
Jim said he signed the petition to Senator Van Hollen calling on him to take action to help stop the CCP’s persecution.
Jose, an art student at Virginia Tech, learns about Falun Gong.
Jose learned about Falun Gong while talking to practitioners outside the venue. He said the truth was covered up and he wished to understand the situation.
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Category: Organ Harvesting
