(Minghui.org) The winters in Michigan are long and cold, so nice weather brings people outdoors. Local Falun Gong practitioners took advantage of the summer to introduce Falun Gong to more people and collect signatures calling for an end to state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting in China.

In May 2013, Falun Gong practitioners were seen at Bella's Island Park, the Eastern Market, and at the Ann Arbor Art Festival. As people visited with the practitioners, they learned about Falun Dafa and the persecution. When they heard that the Chinese government is harvesting and selling organs from living Falun Gong practitioners in China, they were visibly upset. Many showed their support by signing the petition.

Telling people about Falun Gong and collecting signatures of support at Eastern Market, Detroit

Telling people about Falun Gong and collecting signatures at the Ann Arbor Art Festival

According to Dr. Xu from the Falun Dafa Association of Michigan, the signature drive was to support U.S. House Resolution 281, which was introduced in the U.S. Congress this summer and condemns the systematic, state-sanctioned, forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China, most of whom are Falun Gong practitioners. Dr. Xu said, “The event was very successful. Many people showed their support by signing a petition that asks their representatives to co-sponsor the resolution.”

Eastern Market is the largest open market in America, with over 40,000 visitors every Saturday. Many people stopped at the Falun Gong booth to learn about the persecution in China, or they quietly watched practitioners doing the Falun Gong exercises. Although some of the people had their hands full, they still managed to leave their signatures.

Over 500,000 people attended the Ann Arbor Art Festival. It started in 1960 and has become one of the largest art events in America. The American Association of Independent Artists and Sunshine Artist Magazine also frequently rate the Ann Arbor Art Festival as the nation's best outdoor arts festival.

This year's art festival started on July 17 and lasted four days. Passersby stopped at the Falun Gong booth to find out more about House Resolution 281 and to look at the display boards.

After looking at the information panels, a young man asked, “Is this a signature collection for stopping the harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners?” He signed right away. He said, “I got a pamphlet at the Eastern Market. I read it and got so upset. I told my classmates about it, too. I said, 'Can you believe this is happening?'”

A Chinese American woman looked at the information panel and then called to her non-Chinese husband: “Remember the Shen Yun show we saw? Let's sign to support this resolution. This is Falun Gong. It was in one of the dances we saw.” Practitioners proceeded to tell them more about Falun Gong. The wife expressed her support. She and her husband had seen the Shen Yun Performing Arts twice.

After one woman signed she said, “I escaped from a communist country with my mother many years ago. I was persecuted because I wanted to speak up and let people know the truth in my country. I am very sympathetic to the Chinese who are still being persecuted in China. I wish you luck.”

While they were signing the petition, a Native American father and his son said, “The Chinese government takes organs from living human beings and is selling them for a profit. That is unbelievable. It is just so evil.”

An African American woman said, “I understand. I came from a very poor country. What you are doing is very important. Unfortunately many Americans don't have the experience to feel what you feel. I hope you will continue to do what you are doing. Even though organ harvesting is happening in China, if we don't stop it, such evil things could happen in this country, too.”

The signature collection activities were coordinated by Ms. Zhang and several other practitioners from Michigan. They went to Washington, D.C., where large-scale activities were held marking the start of the persecution on July 20, 1999. On that date the Chinese government started a nationwide persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Michigan practitioners visited the 16 offices of their congressional representatives in the United States Capitol, where they submitted 4000 signatures collected in Michigan in support of House Resolution 281.