Oct. 7, 2000

Since Beijing authorities started their crackdown on Falun Gong in July last year, overseas practitioners have been voluntarily making appeals, promoting Falun Gong in Western society, and doing various activities. They hope to put pressure on China from the outside to lift the ban on Falun Dafa. Ms. Zhang Shaohui, a naturalized American citizen who came from Mainland China 11 years ago, has been practicing quietly in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC every weekday afternoon since October 1, 1999 (October 1 is the Chinese National Day). For the past year, this has become a familiar scene for people and vehicles passing by Connecticut Ave.

Ms. Zhang, 58 years old, works at a nursing home in Maryland. Since she works an early shift, after work she takes the Metro and transfers twice to get to the Chinese Embassy. She practices there rain or shine. Ms. Zhang started to learn Falun Gong about two years ago. She said Falun Gong only teaches people to become better people and to improve their health, so she could not understand why the Chinese government so brutally forced Falun Gong practitioners to give up their practice. "Many Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured to death and many families have been broken up since the crackdown. In my heart, they are all like my brothers and sisters," she said, choking back her tears. She felt that her skills were limited, so with Falun Gong's teachings of peace and compassion, she decided to express her wish to help people know about Falun Gong by peacefully doing the exercises in front of the Embassy.

Ms. Zhang told us that the officials at the Embassy were very angry and yelled at her when she first started practicing there on a regular schedule. She didn't pay attention to the intense disturbances and maintained a calm heart. Now they are used to it and ignore her and the other practitioners who join her. "Politics has nothing to do with us," said Ms. Zhang who comes here with her conscience and her compassion. She believes that some of the officials sympathize with Falun Gong but cannot openly express their opinions because of PRC government pressure. She often receives encouragement from many passers-by, including policemen, not to mention her fellow countrymen.

On October 1, 2000, Beijing authorities launched another massive arrest of Falun Gong practitioners in Tiananmen Square. Ms. Zhang told us sadly that she did not know if the government would stop the persecution of Falun Gong. "It is their responsibility whether they correct their mistakes. However, it is our choice as to whether to do righteous things," she said, determined to promptly arrive every day in front of the Chinese Embassy until the government changes its policy.