(Minghui.org) Recently, 54 Virginia state senators and members of the House of Delegates wrote a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asking the U.S. government to double its efforts to stop the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong, pay attention to the CCP’s forced organ harvesting, and ensure that items produced by forced labor are not imported into the United States.
The letter was initiated by Delegates Eric Zehr from the 51st District of Virginia and David Barlova from the 11th District of Virginia and was co-signed by seven state senators and 47 delegates from both parties in Virginia. The letter was also copied to the Virginia federal senators and congressmen.
Seven state senators and 47 delegates in Virginia co-signed the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Delegate Eric Zeh from the 51st District of Virginia, the main initiator of the letter
Delegate Zeh said he heard about the experiences of Falun Gong practitioners mentioned in the letter by chance, which made him realize that he and most people were not aware of the abuses and human rights violations taking place in China. He said he hoped people would know what is happening: “I think forced organ harvesting must end. That is absolutely wrong. I hope our State Department can put pressure on the CCP to end this human rights violation.”
Delegate Zeh said that inviting other legislators to co-sign the letter also informed them about the CCP’s persecution so they can spread the news together. “Even in the small circle that I can influence, that is, the Virginia House of Delegates, I can help other members understand what is happening, and they can also let their voters know about it.”
In recent years, more and more Americans have become aware of the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong. The Virginia House of Delegates and other counties and cities in the state have passed resolutions condemning the CCP’s persecution and its forced organ harvesting.
The co-signed letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio
The letter reads:
“This year marks the 26th anniversary of a humanitarian tragedy. In 1999, the People's Republic of China (PRC) initiated a large-scale effort to eradicate the practice of Falun Gong—a peaceful spiritual practice exercised by millions of people. As you know, the crackdown has been brutal. The practice of Falun Gong has been banned. Books have been destroyed. Fundamental rights have been trampled. Members of the Falun Gong community have been mentally and physically tortured in prisons and re-education/forced labor centers. The immoral practice of non-consenting organ harvesting by the PRC has also been documented.
“Today, the undersigned members of the Virginia General Assembly feel compelled to request the United States to redouble our efforts to use our moral and economic weight to protect religious liberty and bring an end to this inhumane persecution.
“We write because many of the survivors of this persecution are now residents and citizens of the United States. They are our friends, neighbors, and constituents. And most importantly, they are our fellow human beings. Each year, members of Falun Gong visit the Virginia General Assembly to tell their stories. They are gut-wrenching: “Left in death bed with four limbs tied.” “Handcuffed and hung in painful position.” “Violently force-fed.” “High-voltage electric shock.” “Not allowed to sleep for three days.” “Husband killed for protecting me.” “Blood tested for forced organ harvesting.” One survivor brought two jackets she made while in a forced labor camp. Similar products are exported to the American and European markets, with consumers unaware of their origins.
“We applaud and recognize the bi-partisan efforts already taken by members of United States Congress to raise awareness of this tragedy and to end persecution by the PRC. We also deeply appreciate the U.S. Department of State’s recent press statement recognizing a quarter of a century of repression and abuse of Falun Gong and the call to “promote accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses and violations.”
“Finally, we ask the Department of State to take action to help educate Americans about this tragedy and what they can do to be part of the solution. Specifically, we are concerned that patients from the United States who go to China for organ transplants do not know that the organs they may receive are from political prisoners. We should also do all we can to ensure that products from forced labor camps are not imported into the United States.”
The letter concludes, “Next year, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. We ask for your continued leadership for those who are still fighting, and dying, for even the most basic of liberties.”
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