(Minghui.org) The documentary Unbroken: The Untold Story of Shen Yun was screened at Capitol Hill on July 22, 2026. Released earlier this year, the film follows the classical Chinese dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts and exposes the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) transnational suppression of the artists, who continued their world tour despite sabotage and interference campaigns.
A special viewing of the documentary Unbroken is held at the US Capitol on July 22, 2026, followed by a panel discussion. (Minghui.org)
Member of Congress Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind) speaks at the viewing. (Minghui.org)
Representative Marlin Stutzman from Indiana praised the film in his opening remarks, saying that it clearly conveys the CCP’s brutal persecution of believers and reminds American society of the need to cherish freedom and bravely defend freedom of religion and speech.
“I would have loved it if all 535 members of Congress came to see this documentary today,” he continued. “This movie provides a clear framework and factual evidence that connects the CCP to various infiltration activities point-to-point. This kind of direct and compelling evidence is exactly what we desperately need when formulating policies in Congress.”
Rep. Stutzman had watched the documentary with his family before the viewing and said, “We were truly inspired by the story.” He thanked the organizers for inviting him and said he was very honored to host the event at the US Capitol.
He shared that he grew up in a very religious family in Northern Indiana. Then he traveled to Russia at age 18 and witnessed firsthand the social landscape under Communist rule, experiencing the oppression inflicted on the people by the totalitarian system. He later served in Haiti as a missionary, where he witnessed poverty and suffering, and eventually embarked on a political career dedicated to promoting religious freedom and human rights.
He said the human spirit is one of God’s most incredible creations, and it is extremely tragic when that spirit is crushed. People should be able to think, create, express themselves, and communicate with each other freely. “You know, we don’t have to agree 100 per cent on everything, but if we can agree to get to know one another and to understand each other’s backgrounds and experiences and cultures, only societies built on the foundation of freedom can truly prosper and develop.”
Rep. Stutzman pointed out that this is why countries around the world should work together to defend religious freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. He added that Unbroken is a very meaningful story that should be watched and understood by more Americans.
He said the US is a nation built by people who were fleeing persecution. His own ancestors left Switzerland for the United States in search of freedom from religious persecution. However, today, many persecuted individuals from China, even those who have escaped the CCP rule and arrived in free countries, continue to face transnational harassment and intimidation from the CCP regime.
Rep. Stutzman cautioned Americans to gain a clearer understanding of the threat posed by the CCP to the free world through works like Unbroken. He pointed out that the CCP has infiltrated the US, including through social media and educational institutions, using its propaganda and ideology to influence the American people.
He ended his remarks, stating that despite the prevalence of misinformation and false narratives in today’s society, standing up bravely to defend the truth and uphold justice remains of paramount importance. Thanking everyone who attended the screening, he expressed his hope that Unbroken will help more people learn the truth of the CCP’s persecution of freedom of belief and further unite social forces to jointly defend the values of freedom, human rights, and democracy.
Executive Producer: Exposing the CCP’s Transnational Repression
Steve Lance, executive producer of Unbroken, speaks at the panel discussion. (Minghui.org)
Steve Lance, executive producer of the documentary, host of the Capitol Report on NTD News, and investigative reporter, said in his speech at the screening that Unbroken not only tells a deeply moving story, but is also an important documentary exposing transnational repression and upholding freedom. He hopes the film can help more Americans realize the CCP’s infiltration of and threat to free societies.
Lance noted that the CCP’s influence has penetrated deep into American society, including exerting pressure on Congress, cultural institutions, and various social organizations. He cited as an example the CCP’s pressure on American cultural institutions to try and block Shen Yun Performing Arts’ performances, and its continued use of various political and diplomatic means to interfere in American society. He said that the content presented in Unbroken is not fiction, but a reflection of realities occurring in American society.
He said that the US is a country built on religious freedom, but Unbroken reminds people that freedom is not a given, and that totalitarianism always poses a threat to free societies.
Lance said that during his more than year-long investigation, he came to realize more and more deeply that Shen Yun Performing Arts, which revives 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, has become one of the most powerful cultural symbols of resistance against totalitarian rule.
He said that a thought-provoking question is: why would the world’s most powerful totalitarian regime be so afraid of an arts group that showcases traditional Chinese culture through dance and music? The answer is that what the CCP fears most is the spiritual power brought about by traditional values, freedom of belief, and authentic history.
Lance said that, according to investigations, the CCP’s transnational suppression targeting Shen Yun and Falun Gong has lasted for more than 20 years, and it has formulated a so-called “precision strike” strategy in an attempt to use the legal system, media environment, and democratic mechanisms of Western societies to suppress dissenting voices.
He said that this transnational crackdown is not just about groups of artists, but everyone in a free society. “It is testing the freedom of each and every one of us, and the freedom of every American,” he said.
Lance stated that the protagonists in the documentary are Shen Yun artists who live in the United States, but have long suffered transnational harassment and threats from the CCP. Despite facing continuous pressure, they persist in performing on stage and spreading traditional Chinese culture, and this courage is precisely the spirit that Unbroken hopes to convey to the world.
He called on more Americans to watch Unbroken to understand the true situation of the CCP’s transnational repression and to jointly safeguard the universal values of freedom, the rule of law, and faith.
Shen Yun Host: The CCP Is Terrified of Shen Yun
Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun emcee, speaks at the panel discussion. (Minghui.org)
At the panel discussion, Shen Yun emcee Leeshai Lemish gave an in-depth analysis of the historical roots of the CCP’s destruction of China’s 5,000-year-old divinely inspired culture. He pointed out that Shen Yun’s efforts to revive traditional culture strike at the heart of the CCP’s legitimacy. In response to the CCP’s increasingly rampant overseas infiltration and persecution, Lemish called on the US Congress and Government to take concrete action, urging the Senate to pass the Falun Gong Protection Act and to establish an inter-agency task force to address transnational persecution.
Lemish described Chinese traditional culture with its profound spiritual foundation of 5,000 years, emphasizing the unity of Heaven and man and the law of cause and effect in contrast with the CCP, which has deliberately destroyed the traditional foundation of China since the establishment of its regime in to forcibly instill atheism, Marxism and the philosophy of struggle.
He said, “From burning down temples and forcing monks and nuns to return to secular life, to banning traditional music and classical literature, the CCP, through a series of violent movements such as the ‘Cultural Revolution,’ almost wiped out China’s traditional spiritual heritage.”
A huge spiritual void emerged in Chinese society with the end of the Cultural Revolution and the impact of historical events such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Falun Gong was made public in the early 1990s with its core guiding principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. This mind-body practice rekindled the Chinese people’s yearning for traditional virtues and spiritual beliefs, and thus quickly became popular throughout the country.
Lemish said that it is precisely this revival of morality and faith that has caused unprecedented anxiety among the CCP rulers, who glorify violence and lies. Faced with hundreds of millions of ordinary people striving for goodness and virtue, former CCP leader Jiang Zemin forcibly launched a comprehensive persecution on July 20, 1999, arrogantly declaring that he would eliminate Falun Gong within three months. Now, more than two decades later, the power of faith remains resilient, while the CCP is mired in a legitimacy crisis from which it cannot escape.
Speaking about Shen Yun’s mission, Lemish said that since its founding in 2006, Shen Yun has been dedicated to reviving five millennia of traditional Chinese culture almost completely destroyed by the CCP. The main body of each performance showcases universal values, such as reverence for God, virtue, loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, through exquisite classical Chinese dance and orchestral music that blends Chinese and Western elements.
He said Shen Yun has accomplished two things on stage. First, it authentically portrays the moving stories of Falun Gong practitioners upholding their faith during adversity through artistic expression; second, it reintroduces genuine traditional Chinese culture to the world, proving that this is entirely aligned with humanity’s pursuit of kindness, justice, and courage. “We are reviving the traditional culture that the CCP has almost completely destroyed. Therefore, the CCP feels immense fear and unease towards Shen Yun, which precisely exposes their extreme lack of confidence in the legitimacy of their rule.”
He noted that just as the Quit the CCP movement has attracted hundreds of millions of participants in China, the spread of the truth possesses an unstoppable force. The international community will eventually see a real China without communism, a China that has returned to traditional virtues, he said.
Shen Yun Musician: Touching Every Audience With Perfect Music
Rachel Chen, a violinist in Shen Yun, speaks at the panel discussion. (Minghui.org)
Rachel Chen, a violinist with Shen Yun, shared her journey from peacefully protesting and advocating for human rights on the street to performing as an artist on the Shen Yun stage, using music to convey truth and hope.
“Before joining Shen Yun, my most unforgettable memory was when I came here to participate in the July 20 march and candlelight vigil protesting the persecution,” she said. “We are still using our own methods to raise awareness of the persecution still occurring in China. Being able to share this story with you here has a very special meaning for me.”
When asked what motivates her to continue her artistic journey with Shen Yun, Chen shared an experience while performing in the Netherlands that happened during intermission. A Chinese woman walked up to the orchestra pit and recognized a string player from the orchestra. This brief interaction struck Chen as particularly meaningful, and out of curiosity, she approached the woman to learn more.
The woman calmly said, “We were detained in the same labor camp in China back then.”
This experience deeply moved Chen. She realized that Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional Chinese culture and raise awareness of the persecution was not merely a performance on stage, but a true and undeniable reflection of real life.
“That moment made me deeply realize that this is our story, and we need to spread this message,” Chen said, adding that whenever she recalls that moment, it motivates her to give her all in each performance, playing perfect music to move and inspire every audience member.
Shen Yun Lead Dancer: “Unbroken” Embodies the Spirit of Fighting for Justice
Lucas Browde, a lead dancer with Shen Yun (center), speaks at the panel discussion. (Minghui.org)
Shen Yun lead dancer Lucas Browde is one of the primary figures in Unbroken and shared insights from his daily training and understanding of the film’s story, as well as profound reflections about passing on faith and safeguarding freedom. He expressed his firm determination to carry on the mission through kindness and responsibility in the face of oppression.
Speaking about preserving traditional culture, he compared the 20th anniversary of Shen Yun’s founding with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. He pointed out that whether facing the CCP’s attacks and interference against Shen Yun or external challenges faced by free Western societies, each generation shoulders the core mission of safeguarding this spirit.
“When you are born into and inherit a certain culture or spirit, your mission is to uphold it,” he said, emphasizing that the torch passed down from generation to generation needs everyone to defend and promote it.
“Unbroken is not just the name of a documentary. It is a principle—a spirit that everyone should keep in mind and always fight for justice.”
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