Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are gathered here today to re-affirm one of our cherished rights as Americans: the right to peaceably assemble. Unfortunately, the very rights that we enjoy as Americans are being denied the people of China by their government. As practitioners of Falun Gong here today will tell you, their friends, mothers, fathers, and grandparents are suffering torture and even death for the right to peaceably assemble and practice Falun Gong.

But I'm not here to tell you about what is happening in China. I'm here to tell you about the systematic attempt by the Chinese government to silence American elected officials who have taken a stand in support of basic human rights. Last November while mayor of Saratoga, I issued a proclamation honoring the contributions practitioners of Falun Gong have made to our community. I included in the proclamation an affirmation of the rights of Falun Gong practitioners to peaceably assemble anywhere in the world.

Shortly thereafter, our city received a call from the Chinese Consulate here in San Francisco, requesting a meeting. When the representatives of the Consul showed up at city hall, they presented me with a letter from the Consul requesting me to rescind my proclamation, based on the assertion that Falun Gong was a "XX" [Chinese government's slanderous word]. When I refused, they attempted to extract a pledge from me and the City Manager to take a "neutral" stand on Falun Gong. We did not agree.

Soon I discovered that the government of China had approached other mayors who had issued proclamations. In fact, it was reported on the wire services that the Mayor of Alhambra had apologized for issuing the proclamation. When I called him to find out what had happened, the assistant city manager told me in no uncertain terms that the issue was closed.

This meddling in the affairs of our government is simply unacceptable. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the efforts of the Nazi government of Germany in the 1930's to persuade the rest of the world that persecution of its citizens simply was not taking place. And the parallels don't end there. Today, as was also the case in 1930's Germany, major American corporations have significant investments in China. The temptation is to look the other way, to ignore what is happening because we are fearful of disrupting trade in an emerging market. If there is one lesson we should have learned from the 1930's, turning a blind eye to such events will cost us dearly in the long run.

In 1996 I ran for city council on a platform to open city hall to all citizens to participate in our government, and last year the voters reaffirmed that commitment by sending me back to city hall for a second term. Instead of expending all the effort to silence Americans who speak out for the rights of the people of China, the Chinese government should instead look to our institutions of government as a model to emulate. What is so threatening about opening up parks and public meeting places for the practice of Falun Gong?

On a more personal note, I understand the anguish of the families in China whose members have suffered at the hands of the government just for practicing Falun Gong. Growing up in an Armenian family, I don't remember one friend or relative whose family was not affected by the terrible genocide, and today, nearly 100 years after it occurred, the perpetrators are publicly denying it happened. Hasn't the civilized world learned by now to recognize the warning signs?

Today I'm honored that the practitioners of Falun Gong have invited me to join them in taking a stand for freedom. And today I call upon our elected members of Congress and the Senate to stand up and be counted. That is the least we can do for those in China who have sacrificed so much for their beliefs.

Thank you.