On July 19, 2000, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference at one o'clock in the afternoon in downtown Manhattan for Chinese media in the West. The conference released the true story of the Falun Gong persecution in China, including accounts of numerous innocent Chinese citizens that had been arrested, beaten, insulted, detained, put into prison or even tortured to death simply because they persevered in their beliefs ofá "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance."

The reporters that attended the conference came from over ten different newspapers and radio stations. Before the press conference began, the practitioners distributed printed materials that listed the cases of malicious beatings and those who were tortured to death. Various picture reports were also posted on the surrounding boards. The conference started with the documentary show of a newly produced video,á "Falun Gong: The Real Story (2)." It reviewed the various sufferings that Falun Gong practitioners in China endured the past year, and the strong condemnations made by many countries and international organizations against the human rights violations of the Chinese Government.á The representative of the practitioners then gave a speech and answered questions of the reporters. After the conference, the reporters and practitioners continued their favorable conversations. The practitioners patiently answered all the doubts raised by the reporters. The atmosphere of the entire press conference was very peaceful and friendly.

The practitioners of New York and New Jersey practiced the five sets of Falun Dafa exercises, promoted Dafa, and told the true story to the public in front of the Chinese Consulate General in Manhattan from July 19 to July 23.á They also continued to urge the Chinese Government to stop the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, release all detained practitioners and restore the innocence of Falun Dafa. In order to participate in the petition activity that lasted for several days, many practitioners already asked for some days off from work. One practitioner was planning to send his child to daycare for a week so he could participate in the activities without any worries.á Though this practitioner's family was not rich, his idea even got the support of his family members who did not practice Falun Gong.

Reported on July 20, 2000
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