Last week Falun Gong practitioners wrote to City of Barrie Mayor, Jim Perri, asking if they could meet with him while Jinyu Li, the Canadian practitioner appealing for the release of her husband from a Chinese labour camp, was in town. Practitioners said that even if the mayor had only 5 minutes to meet with them and express his support to Jinyu and Falun Gong practitioners, it would be greatly appreciated. Mr. Perri had sent a congratulatory letter to Falun Dafa practitioners for Falun Dafa Week in the province of Ontario.

On less than two days' notice, Mr. Perri agreed to meet the practitioners at 9:00am on Wednesday morning. The requested 5-minute appointment ended up being about 45 minutes and the mayor was very friendly and sympathetic to the practitioners. The mayor expressed his concern for Shenli Lin, Jinyu Li's husband who suffers in a labour camp in China, as well as all Falun Gong practitioners who are being brutally and unjustly persecuted by the Chinese government. He mentioned all the propaganda that he had received about Falun Gong from the Chinese government, which he said was "obviously fabricated."

The mayor was so supportive that he invited the practitioners to return in the afternoon with the media so that he could express his support to Jinyu's and Falun Gong practitioners' cause to Barrie's citizens.

The practitioners returned at around 12:30 to another warm greeting from the mayor, who this time offered the practitioners beautiful pins bearing Barrie's coat of arms. After taking pictures with the local newspaper, the mayor said it would be all right if the practitioners returned again shortly with the local TV station for a third visit.

When the practitioners returned with the TV station, the mayor again took pictures with the practitioners and then was interviewed by the TV cameraman. He again expressed both his support for Falun Gong practitioners and his indignation towards the Chinese government's persecution. He said that he would do whatever he could to help the cause of Falun Gong practitioners who are being unjustly persecuted in China.

In all, a requested 5 minute meeting with the mayor ended up lasting over an hour. He was so warm and supportivehe even agreed to write to the Prime Minister to encourage him to show more support for Falun Gong practitioners.

It is wonderful for the people of the City of Barrie that they have a leader who is clear-minded, values virtue, and who will speak up to support justice.

Canadian Falun Dafa practitioners