On July 11, 2001, Walk to DC team (a total of 21 walkers) arrived in Philadelphia and held a press conference at Liberty Bell Pavilion. About 10 local media attended the press conference. Pennsylvania Congressman Curtis Thomas came to extend his support to Falun Gong before the press conference started. In the conference, a practitioner read a proclamation from the Senate of Pennsylvania, and a congratulatory letter from the Chairman of House Democratic Caucus, House of Representatives.
Many tourists listened to the practitioners' presentations and signed the petitions to protest Jiang Zemin's government's violation of human rights. Some kind-hearted people who have been concerned about the situation of Falun Gong practitioners also attended the press conference.