Falun Gong Adherents in US Describe Persecutions (09/12/03)

by KYW's Karin Phillips

 

Practitioners of a form of spiritual exercise that is banned in China have arrived at the Liberty Bell, as they step up efforts to bring awareness of what they describe as severe persecution in their homeland.

Gang Chen now lives in Marlton, NJ, but this time last year he was in a Chinese labor camp, convicted of practicing Falun Gong, a form of spiritual exercise:

"I was sent to the notorious Yangzhou Labor Camp, where I spent the toughest 18 months of my life. It's very painful for me to even recall those darkest days."

Chen has joined a cross-country awareness tour centering around Dr. Charles Li, an American citizen detained in China for the past six months, charged with sabotage in threatening to expose Falun Gong persecution.

Chen says the tour ends September 16th in Washington, DC:

"I know the pain and suffering that Dr. Charles Li is going through now. I wish that everyone can speak up and support Charles Li because he is absolutely innocent."