(Clearwisdom.net)

Around noon on September 7, 2004, several Falun Gong practitioners were practicing exercises and distributing truth-clarification materials on the square across from the New York Stock Exchange. Many people were sitting on the steps of the square having their lunch.

Practitioners put up some display boards with information about the practice of Falun Gong around the world, and about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Many people were attracted to read the display boards and watch the exercises. When a practitioner was clarifying the truth to an American gentleman, a Chinese man wearing sunglasses and a hat swung his body and sneered at the practitioner. Before the American gentleman left, the Chinese man stopped him and asked him if he wanted to know the other side of the story. That American gentleman shook his head and said, "No."

After the American gentleman left, the Chinese man walked up to the practitioner and said, "Don't stay here any longer to deceive people. You steal traditional Chinese culture. Truth-Compassion-Tolerance does not just belong to Falun Gong, it belongs to the entire Chinese nation."

The practitioner replied, "Falun Gong is rooted in traditional Chinese culture. You also think Truth-Compassion-Tolerance is good, then shouldn't the persecution of people who believe in Truth-Compassion-Tolerance be stopped?"

That man said, "You are promoting your lies by using Truth-Compassion-Tolerance."

When the practitioner asked what lies he referred to, he was a bit hesitant and said, "Falun Gong caused many people to die."

The practitioner said, "It is Jiang's brutal persecution that caused so many people to die. Cultivating Truth-Compassion-Tolerance can only bring good to people."

That man then switched the topic, and said, "You come here all for money."

The practitioner said, "I am using my vacation time to do this. I came from out of town at my own expense. All I want is for people to know about the persecution of Falun Gong. No one gave me a penny. I have benefited tremendously from Falun Gong, so I want to let people know the truth. We do not have any agenda, and we only speak the truth. We hope the persecution of Falun Gong stops soon. I hope you do not listen to the lies cooked up by Jiang's followers."

While the practitioner was clarifying the truth, the Chinese man kept waving his arms and shouting. He blocked people who wanted to look at the display boards.

Since this man was behaving so strangely, the practitioner suspected that he might be a special agent sent by the Jiang regime to interfere with practitioners. Therefore, the practitioner decided not to talk to him anymore. So the man had to leave.

However, a minute later, this man came back saying, "You said you are volunteers. I will be a volunteer too. I'll stand here. If you speak to a person, I'll speak about opposite things to that person too." The practitioner advised him not to make trouble. He didn't listen. Instead, he shouted to people sitting on the square, "Don't believe in Falun Gong. They are deceiving people. They are responsible for many people's death."

Practitioners said calmly to people, "Falun Gong cultivates Truth-Compassion-Tolerance and is beneficial to people's mind and health. It has been spread to over 60 countries. It is Jiang's persecution that has caused so many people to die."

The Chinese man shouted again, "China is a great country and is becoming more and more prosperous. They have been going against China."

Practitioners said, "We love our country. We're not against the Chinese government. We're only opposing this brutal persecution of innocent people."

The hysterical behavior of that Chinese man and the calm words of practitioners were sharp contrasts to each other. After several rounds, people on the square came to understand what was going on. Some laughed at him; others stared at him with a disgusting look. An elderly American gentleman questioned the Chinese man, "Don't shout here. We all understand what this is about. You said many people have died. How did they die?" The Chinese man said in a low voice, "Falun Gong killed many people." That American gentleman said, "Can you speak loudly? How did so many Falun Gong practitioners lose their lives?" A person sitting on the square said, "It's the Chinese government's persecution."

Several practitioners walked up to the Chinese man and clarified the truth to him. They advised him again not to make trouble here. That man still shouted, "They're speaking Chinese to me. They tried to convince me."

At this time, a police officer came over. He warned that Chinese man saying, "They [Falun Gong practitioners] are kind and peaceful people. If you keep shouting here, I'll send you to jail." The Chinese man asked, "Don't I have freedom of speech." The police officer said, "Please leave. Stay away from them. They're very good people. Let me repeat what I said. If you don't leave, I'll send you to jail."

The Chinese man left, defeated. Practitioners expressed their gratitude to the police officer. The officer said, "You are very good. Take it easy. I understand you." Practitioners then clarified the truth to him, and said, "Jiang's regime has extended its persecution of Falun Gong overseas. They harass us in various ways." The officer said, "I know. I've witnessed today's incident. Please be assured that everything will be ok since you live in our country where human rights are honored."

Before he left, the officer gave his business card to practitioners and said, "If similar incidents happen in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me."