Rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol Steps
“Join 54 M Chinese who have quit CCP”
“Join 54 M Chinese who have quit CCP”
| Univ. of Michigan computer professor Tommy Xu heads the Midwest 14-city tour |
By Heidi M. Pascual
It was a beautiful, warm and sunny Sunday Spring morning in Madison,
Wis., that greeted a group of advocates and supporters of a movement
aimed at reaching out to residents of mainland China to join them. The
Midwest Service Center for Quitting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party),
led by University of Michigan computer-science professor, Tommy Xu, was
on a 14-city tour of the Midwest states (starting in Chicago) to promote
awareness about the number of Chinese people who have resigned from
the CCP through the website of The Epoch Times. This Midwest group is
part of a nationwide movement based in New York. Their big truck, parked
along a side street facing the State Capitol building, was painted with big
letters that read “Support 54 Million People Resigning from Chinese
Communist Party and its Affiliates” in Chinese and English, with a blue sky
and doves on the background.
“We hope to bring change to the future,” Xu said in an interview with
Asian Wisconzine before the rally. “We are not fighting anybody; we are
actually bringing awareness about the evil nature of the Chinese
Communist Party. We want China to be safer, a better place for the Chinese
people.”
Xu explained that after the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the
Communist Party by The Epoch Times in November 1994, people started to
realize the true nature of the CCP. “The ‘Nine Commentaries’ is a series of
editorials that give insight into CCP’s history and the message CCP uses to
deceive the people and persecute innocent people,” he said. “It is based
on CCP’s own record, certified materials and extensive personal
testimonies. For example, it records 80 million dead in China and CCP
continues to persecute people. The CCP regime supports many countries
that are against the United States and steal America’s commercial and
defense secrets.”
As to whether or not his group is pursuing democracy, Xu said that
they are not interested in politics. “We just think that the CCP has nothing to
do with our culture,” he stressed. “ Their ideology came from Germany. It’s
not part of our Chinese culture. We just want to revive our own Chinese
culture.”
Xu admitted that while most of the members of this movement are
Falun Gong practitioners, there are also supporters who are non-Falun
Gong members, such as Tibetan Buddhists and Christians. He described
Falun Gong as “basically a mind and body practice rooted in Chinese
culture.”
“It is not a religion,” Xu said, “because we do not have a church like
other religions with membership. In Falun Gong, we have free teaching. It
is similar to yoga and tai’ chi, but they only have movement. They don’t
teach you the principles of the universe. It’s a spiritual group, though. We
are taught the principles of the universe: truthfulness, compassion, and
tolerance.”
The Chinese Consulate in Chicago, according to Xu, has not been
responsive to their demands simply because its officials are controlled by
the party. “We only have three requests to them,” he said, “and these are:
1) release all Falun Gong practitioners jailed in China; 2) give us freedom
to practice our exercise; and 3) give us freedom to publish our teacher’s
book in China.”
Impossible at present, but Xu hopes increased awareness and
information will create some changes in the future, despite the barriers to
communication and the lack of freedom of speech and expression in the
Mainland. Xu said many Chinese people try all means to break through the
Chinese government’s firewall to see their website. “Of course (the
Chinese government) blocks it,” he said. “But people use some secret
channels to post the statements. Sometimes they use fax and (when they
are able) send us emails, which we then post on our website. Sometimes
they use their cell phones, text messaging. Many send out fax, posters,
flyers, and CDs. Whenever possible, they post our message in public
places. They even write the statement on Chinese currency bills.”
Rally
“I applaud all residents of Madison who are in today’s event to raise
awareness about various human rights violations that are still currently
happening under communist regimes throughout the world. Today’s event
provides an opportunity for those who have suffered persecution directly
and indirectly from the Chinese Communist Party, such as Falun Gong
practitioners, Tibetans, Vietnamese and Hmong, who have suffered torture
in concentration camps to share their experiences and to be the voice of
those who are still experiencing persecution but unable to speak out for
themselves at this moment. I support efforts in striving for a just world for
all so that everyone may enjoy basic human rights and be able to live an
open and dignified life.”—Madison Mayor David Cieslewicz
The above letter from Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was read by Grace Wu, a
Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who also emceed the
program. She said that their movement has received similar support from
many national and local officials.
This is an unprecedented event for Chinese citizens to step forward and
publicly dissociate themselves from the Chinese Communist Party and
condemn the party for the disaster it has wrought upon China,” Wu
declared. “This movement is gaining momentum, and as it continues, the
CCP will … inevitably break apart.”
Zhihui Wen, representing the Wisconsin Service Center for Quitting the
Chinese Communist Party, came forward to explain the procedure on how
to resign from the CCP, and Peter Zheng narrated how he, a Falun Gong
practitioner, was jailed in China for five years and suffered torture and
forced labor during his incarceration. Zheng arrived in the U.S. last
December. Sharon Remer, explained what Falun Gong is all about, and
questioned the persecution of its members in China. Last year, Remer
organized the Madison part of the Human Rights Torch Relay, a global
movement against China hosting the Olympic Games. Tim Gebhart, a
graduate from UW-Madison, then took the stage to talk about organ-
harvesting in China, particularly targeted against Falun Gong practitioners.
It was a beautiful, warm and sunny Sunday Spring morning in Madison,
Wis., that greeted a group of advocates and supporters of a movement
aimed at reaching out to residents of mainland China to join them. The
Midwest Service Center for Quitting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party),
led by University of Michigan computer-science professor, Tommy Xu, was
on a 14-city tour of the Midwest states (starting in Chicago) to promote
awareness about the number of Chinese people who have resigned from
the CCP through the website of The Epoch Times. This Midwest group is
part of a nationwide movement based in New York. Their big truck, parked
along a side street facing the State Capitol building, was painted with big
letters that read “Support 54 Million People Resigning from Chinese
Communist Party and its Affiliates” in Chinese and English, with a blue sky
and doves on the background.
“We hope to bring change to the future,” Xu said in an interview with
Asian Wisconzine before the rally. “We are not fighting anybody; we are
actually bringing awareness about the evil nature of the Chinese
Communist Party. We want China to be safer, a better place for the Chinese
people.”
Xu explained that after the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the
Communist Party by The Epoch Times in November 1994, people started to
realize the true nature of the CCP. “The ‘Nine Commentaries’ is a series of
editorials that give insight into CCP’s history and the message CCP uses to
deceive the people and persecute innocent people,” he said. “It is based
on CCP’s own record, certified materials and extensive personal
testimonies. For example, it records 80 million dead in China and CCP
continues to persecute people. The CCP regime supports many countries
that are against the United States and steal America’s commercial and
defense secrets.”
As to whether or not his group is pursuing democracy, Xu said that
they are not interested in politics. “We just think that the CCP has nothing to
do with our culture,” he stressed. “ Their ideology came from Germany. It’s
not part of our Chinese culture. We just want to revive our own Chinese
culture.”
Xu admitted that while most of the members of this movement are
Falun Gong practitioners, there are also supporters who are non-Falun
Gong members, such as Tibetan Buddhists and Christians. He described
Falun Gong as “basically a mind and body practice rooted in Chinese
culture.”
“It is not a religion,” Xu said, “because we do not have a church like
other religions with membership. In Falun Gong, we have free teaching. It
is similar to yoga and tai’ chi, but they only have movement. They don’t
teach you the principles of the universe. It’s a spiritual group, though. We
are taught the principles of the universe: truthfulness, compassion, and
tolerance.”
The Chinese Consulate in Chicago, according to Xu, has not been
responsive to their demands simply because its officials are controlled by
the party. “We only have three requests to them,” he said, “and these are:
1) release all Falun Gong practitioners jailed in China; 2) give us freedom
to practice our exercise; and 3) give us freedom to publish our teacher’s
book in China.”
Impossible at present, but Xu hopes increased awareness and
information will create some changes in the future, despite the barriers to
communication and the lack of freedom of speech and expression in the
Mainland. Xu said many Chinese people try all means to break through the
Chinese government’s firewall to see their website. “Of course (the
Chinese government) blocks it,” he said. “But people use some secret
channels to post the statements. Sometimes they use fax and (when they
are able) send us emails, which we then post on our website. Sometimes
they use their cell phones, text messaging. Many send out fax, posters,
flyers, and CDs. Whenever possible, they post our message in public
places. They even write the statement on Chinese currency bills.”
Rally
“I applaud all residents of Madison who are in today’s event to raise
awareness about various human rights violations that are still currently
happening under communist regimes throughout the world. Today’s event
provides an opportunity for those who have suffered persecution directly
and indirectly from the Chinese Communist Party, such as Falun Gong
practitioners, Tibetans, Vietnamese and Hmong, who have suffered torture
in concentration camps to share their experiences and to be the voice of
those who are still experiencing persecution but unable to speak out for
themselves at this moment. I support efforts in striving for a just world for
all so that everyone may enjoy basic human rights and be able to live an
open and dignified life.”—Madison Mayor David Cieslewicz
The above letter from Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was read by Grace Wu, a
Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who also emceed the
program. She said that their movement has received similar support from
many national and local officials.
This is an unprecedented event for Chinese citizens to step forward and
publicly dissociate themselves from the Chinese Communist Party and
condemn the party for the disaster it has wrought upon China,” Wu
declared. “This movement is gaining momentum, and as it continues, the
CCP will … inevitably break apart.”
Zhihui Wen, representing the Wisconsin Service Center for Quitting the
Chinese Communist Party, came forward to explain the procedure on how
to resign from the CCP, and Peter Zheng narrated how he, a Falun Gong
practitioner, was jailed in China for five years and suffered torture and
forced labor during his incarceration. Zheng arrived in the U.S. last
December. Sharon Remer, explained what Falun Gong is all about, and
questioned the persecution of its members in China. Last year, Remer
organized the Madison part of the Human Rights Torch Relay, a global
movement against China hosting the Olympic Games. Tim Gebhart, a
graduate from UW-Madison, then took the stage to talk about organ-
harvesting in China, particularly targeted against Falun Gong practitioners.
(Top and above) Rallyists on the steps of
the Wisconsin State Capitol facing State St.
the Wisconsin State Capitol facing State St.
Wis. Tibetan Assn. President Thubden
Sangha speaks in support of the movement
to quit CCP.
Sangha speaks in support of the movement
to quit CCP.
Ven. Ngawang Choejor of Deer Park
Buddhist Center in Oregon joins the rally.
Buddhist Center in Oregon joins the rally.
| UW-Madison Ph.D. student Grace Wu emcees. |
| Zhihui Wen, representing the Wisconsin Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, came forward to explain the procedure on how to resign from the CCP |
| Peter Zheng narrated how he, a Falun Gong practitioner, was jailed in China for five years and suffered torture and forced labor during his incarceration. |
| Jim Gebhart, a UW-Madison graduate, talks about organ-harvesting in China, particularly targeted against Falun Gong practitioners. |
Sharon Remer, who organized the
Madison part of the Human Rights Torch
Relay last year — a global movement
against China hosting the Olympic
Games — explains what Falun Gong is
all about.
Madison part of the Human Rights Torch
Relay last year — a global movement
against China hosting the Olympic
Games — explains what Falun Gong is
all about.
Falun Gong explained
“Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is a peaceful mind-body practice which consists of exercises, meditation and living according to the principles of truth,
compassion and forbearance,” Remer explained. “Introduced in China in the early 1990s, the practice flourished as people realized and experienced
improvements in their health and daily lives. Although Falun Gong was initially sanctioned by the CCP, the vast number of those practicing Falun Gong,
an estimated 100 million, was perceived as a threat to the leadership, and in July 1999, Falun Gong was banned in Mainland China. Brutal persecution
followed against those who continued to practice Falun Gong and continues to this very day, almost a full decade later.”
Remer said she supports the movement for Chinese people to resign from CCP. “Growing up in Midwest America, it is hard to imagine what it must be
like to grow up in a country where a regime shapes and defines one’s world view from a very young age,” she said. “The propaganda taught in school
and reinforced in state-controlled media is all that they have known. The fact that 53-54 million people have had the insight and courage to quit the CCP is
awe-inspiring to me. I have much admiration for those who have chosen to break away from all that they have been taught and told, often at great
personal risk.”
The reasons why she thought many Chinese people have resigned from CCP were many. “One needs only to read the headlines regarding the
corruption and crisis befalling China today,” Remer continued. “Although China’s human rights abuses are well known, we don’t see as many headlines
in the United States regarding human rights abuses as we do for example, tainted food. Headlines you rarely see in mainstream media would be, for
example, ‘Fifteen-year old orphaned as mother died in custody for practicing Falun Gong,’ or ‘Fueled by Olympics, Falun Gong persecution escalated
sharply in 2008.’” She also shared some figures about the number of Chinese people who are illegally detained and sent to labor camps; documented
cases of torture and abuse; deaths while in police custody; confinement to mental hospitals and the torture there (an act condemned by the World
Psychiatric Association); and people who were subjected to ‘organ-harvesting’ operations. “For a deeper understanding, additional facts, and personal
stories, see the Falun Dafa info center website on the Internet, falundafainformationcenter.org,” Remer urged her audience.
Wis. Tibetan Association (WTA)
WTA President Thubden Sangha was wearing a traditional Tibetan clothing, a Wisconsin Badger cap, and Tibetan flag tucked over his chest. With
confidence, Sangha addressed his audience highlighting why “Communism is not the answer.”
“Communism has always been an ideal that nobody had been able to practice in reality,” Sangha began. “It is an ideal that we look forward to in an
ideal world; and in an ideal situation, Communism will work. But people cannot accept that they can all be equal. And knowing that has led to the
problems of Communism that exist in China today and in Tibet. “
Sangha explained why WTA was in support of the movement to quit CCP. He said Tibetans believe that the CCP in Tibet has caused a lot of misery,
deaths, discontent, suffering, and fear, and that Communism is the reason many Tibetans are now in exile.
“We have a common goal: freedom, democracy, human rights, right to self-determination, right to choose our own government, right to have our own
religion and practice it, and live our own life the way we would love to live it,” Sangha said. “We want the Chinese government and people to understand
that we want resolution, we want negotiation, we want a dialogue. And in this dialogue we are asking five simple things: transformation of the whole of
Tibet into a zone of peace; the abandonment of China’s population-transfer policy; restoration and protection of Tibet’s natural environment;
commencement of honest negotiations for the future of Tibet; and Tibet’s status in relation to China.”
Sangha also read a passage from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, part of which read:
“We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering regardless of race, religion, sex or political status. Human beings, indeed all sentient beings, have
the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and in freedom. ... But if we are prevented from using our creative potential, we are deprived of one of the
basic characteristics of human beings. It is very often the most gifted, dedicated and creative members of our society who become victims of human
rights abuses. ... Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as
Communists have assumed, merely to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. The deeper human nature needs to breathe the freshest air of
liberty.”
“Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is a peaceful mind-body practice which consists of exercises, meditation and living according to the principles of truth,
compassion and forbearance,” Remer explained. “Introduced in China in the early 1990s, the practice flourished as people realized and experienced
improvements in their health and daily lives. Although Falun Gong was initially sanctioned by the CCP, the vast number of those practicing Falun Gong,
an estimated 100 million, was perceived as a threat to the leadership, and in July 1999, Falun Gong was banned in Mainland China. Brutal persecution
followed against those who continued to practice Falun Gong and continues to this very day, almost a full decade later.”
Remer said she supports the movement for Chinese people to resign from CCP. “Growing up in Midwest America, it is hard to imagine what it must be
like to grow up in a country where a regime shapes and defines one’s world view from a very young age,” she said. “The propaganda taught in school
and reinforced in state-controlled media is all that they have known. The fact that 53-54 million people have had the insight and courage to quit the CCP is
awe-inspiring to me. I have much admiration for those who have chosen to break away from all that they have been taught and told, often at great
personal risk.”
The reasons why she thought many Chinese people have resigned from CCP were many. “One needs only to read the headlines regarding the
corruption and crisis befalling China today,” Remer continued. “Although China’s human rights abuses are well known, we don’t see as many headlines
in the United States regarding human rights abuses as we do for example, tainted food. Headlines you rarely see in mainstream media would be, for
example, ‘Fifteen-year old orphaned as mother died in custody for practicing Falun Gong,’ or ‘Fueled by Olympics, Falun Gong persecution escalated
sharply in 2008.’” She also shared some figures about the number of Chinese people who are illegally detained and sent to labor camps; documented
cases of torture and abuse; deaths while in police custody; confinement to mental hospitals and the torture there (an act condemned by the World
Psychiatric Association); and people who were subjected to ‘organ-harvesting’ operations. “For a deeper understanding, additional facts, and personal
stories, see the Falun Dafa info center website on the Internet, falundafainformationcenter.org,” Remer urged her audience.
Wis. Tibetan Association (WTA)
WTA President Thubden Sangha was wearing a traditional Tibetan clothing, a Wisconsin Badger cap, and Tibetan flag tucked over his chest. With
confidence, Sangha addressed his audience highlighting why “Communism is not the answer.”
“Communism has always been an ideal that nobody had been able to practice in reality,” Sangha began. “It is an ideal that we look forward to in an
ideal world; and in an ideal situation, Communism will work. But people cannot accept that they can all be equal. And knowing that has led to the
problems of Communism that exist in China today and in Tibet. “
Sangha explained why WTA was in support of the movement to quit CCP. He said Tibetans believe that the CCP in Tibet has caused a lot of misery,
deaths, discontent, suffering, and fear, and that Communism is the reason many Tibetans are now in exile.
“We have a common goal: freedom, democracy, human rights, right to self-determination, right to choose our own government, right to have our own
religion and practice it, and live our own life the way we would love to live it,” Sangha said. “We want the Chinese government and people to understand
that we want resolution, we want negotiation, we want a dialogue. And in this dialogue we are asking five simple things: transformation of the whole of
Tibet into a zone of peace; the abandonment of China’s population-transfer policy; restoration and protection of Tibet’s natural environment;
commencement of honest negotiations for the future of Tibet; and Tibet’s status in relation to China.”
Sangha also read a passage from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, part of which read:
“We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering regardless of race, religion, sex or political status. Human beings, indeed all sentient beings, have
the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and in freedom. ... But if we are prevented from using our creative potential, we are deprived of one of the
basic characteristics of human beings. It is very often the most gifted, dedicated and creative members of our society who become victims of human
rights abuses. ... Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as
Communists have assumed, merely to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. The deeper human nature needs to breathe the freshest air of
liberty.”
