US Senator Debbie Stabenow and her legislative assistant Mr. Dock Thatcher with Falun Gong practitioners in Michigan. The words on the yellow cloth are "Free Charles Li" with signatures.

On July 22, 2003, Falun Gong practitioners from Michigan attended a reception hosted by Senator Debbie Stabenow in Washington D.C. This was the second time that the practitioners met with their senators in Washington DC since last July.

As soon as the senator entered her office, she first met with several Falun Gong practitioners. She listened carefully about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, especially the recent situation of American citizen Charles Li, who is being illegally detained in a Chinese prison. The practitioners showed the senator a yellow banner with signatures collected for the rescue of Charles Li several days earlier at an Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair. The Senator was quite moved, and was pleased to have a picture taken with the six Falun Gong practitioners.

The Senator and her assistant have shown great concern over the persecution of Falun Gong in China. When she heard about the recent situation of Dr. Charles Li, she expressed that she and her assistant would further investigate the matter and help secure Dr. Li's release soon.