וושינגטון, ארה"ב: עצרת נרות גדולה לזכר מתרגלי הפאלון גונג שנרדפו למוות על ידי המשטר הקומוניסטי הסיני

Now to Washington, D.C., where, as the sky dimmed last evening, practitioners of Falun Dafa lit up our nation's capital with a candlelight vigil. Sitting quietly, they called for an end to a brutal 27-year persecution in China. Here's NTD's Fiona Ji. Amid a sea of flickering candlelight here on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., practitioners of the spiritual faith Falun Dafa are gathered to commemorate a very sad day. We're here today to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong. Helping to raise awareness about the persecution in China that is happening since 27 years now. That practice being persecuted is Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, a spiritual practice rooted in Buddhist tradition. It's centered around the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Principles that practitioners say help them become better people. I'm a teacher, and so it has helped me develop patience for my students. Doing the practice really helped with my anxiety. It helps with depression, but it also helps me with my patience in my classroom. But the Chinese Communist Party has been brutally persecuting Falun Dafa since 1999, fearing that the practice's popularity and emphasis on improving morality would undermine the party's power. For many practitioners, the persecution hits very close to home. Andy Lee was illegally incarcerated in a labor camp for nearly two years. I was at first sent to a forced brainwashing center, and then that's about nine days. And then about eight days in a confinement room. That means I have no sleep. And Alyssa Zhou's mother remains incarcerated in China today. She has been held in a criminal detention center in Wuhan since April 30. The authority has denied family visits, also denied her attorney to visit her case. We're very worried about her safety. Why is she detained? Is it just because she practices Falun Gong? Yes, simply for her beliefs. Living in America, practitioners are grateful for the religious freedom they have. But they also say it's important not to forget about what's happening in China. As an American, oftentimes we can take our freedoms here for granted. And so being here, I'm first of all so grateful to be able to be here. And I think it's sort of a duty for me to utilize the freedoms that I have to speak out for people who can't do the same in China. Some have even experienced harassment on American soil for speaking out about the persecution. This is part of the CCP's transnational repression campaign. I had Chinese individuals who were non-practitioners start, they came up and were taking pictures of me, you know, as an American. So my question is, where are those pictures going? So what can Americans do to help? Falun Dafa practitioners say, contact your lawmakers. Please urge your senators to support and co-sponsor BOS4009, Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act. I think that if our government starts to realize what's happening in China and how it is affecting Americans, then it will bring more awareness to the everyday American. And their one shared hope for the future? For the persecution in China to one day finally end. Despite 27 years of persecution, these practitioners are not giving up hope. They are truly a testament to their quiet strength and resilience. Reporting from Washington, D.C., Fiona Ji, NTD News.