In promoting the Fa and telling the truth to the public, we have found that the evil forces have been using Chinese embassies, consulates and other agencies to sabotage and exert pressure on the government officials of many American cities. It is obviously a pressing issue for us to help those officials understand the truth of Falun Gong.

The mayor of Gilroy, California proclaimed December 11 through 17 as Falun Dafa Week. He read the proclamation letter at the city council meeting and invited a representative Falun Gong practitioner to introduce Falun Dafa. In the 5-minute presentation, the practitioner talked about the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public, his personal experiences and those of his friends and relatives, the persecution of Dafa in China, and the behavior of Dafa practitioners under the unfair treatment. He also gave several actual examples to support his presentation, which were applauded by the audience. After the proclamation ceremony, a citizen held the hand of the practitioner and said: "Thank you, thank you."

Later, the practitioner emailed the mayor and thanked him for issuing the proclamation. He also added that according to what had happened in some local cities, the Chinese Consulate might interfere and demand that he recant the proclamation. The practitioner said: "They spread non-factual stories such as committing suicide, not seeing the doctor etc., to slander Falun Gong. Those are purely fabrications. If they contact you and raise the same request, we are very willing to answer any of their questions about Falun Gong and the current situation in China. We are also willing to help Chinese officials to know the truth and stop the aimless attack."

In the return mail, the mayor said: "I feel very honored to have the opportunity to issue the proclamation, and I do not plan to recant it. I deeply sympathize with the Chinese people who are under immoral persecution of their life and belief. I believe that if a person could not stick to his principles, he is nothing. I admire those people who are risking their lives and never back up in the face of unimaginable difficulties. I believe that giving them support is our unshakable responsibility."

We are very pleased with the wise and just actions of the mayor. At the same time, we also feel that since many Western government officials are in frequent contact with Chinese officials, they are very easily influenced by the deceptive propaganda of the Chinese government. Therefore, it becomes especially important for us to introduce the Fa and tell the truth to them.

Although some people may be unwilling to, or dare not, show their support for justice because of a conflict of interests, and some may pull back under pressure, we are awakening a sense of justice and conscience by telling the truth to the public. Just as Teacher says: "As a practitioner and a cultivator, I think you should do these types of things even from the perspective of compassion. Telling the truth to the people is saving them" (Speech by Master Li Hongzhi at the Western US Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference of Falun Dafa).

We are not begging for any honor. Instead, by promoting the Fa and explaining the truth to others, we are helping them clear away the influence of the deceptive propaganda so that they can better position themselves for the future. The more we do in this regard, the more people will be able to differentiate the truth from the lies.

Practitioners from California

December 23, 2000