(Minghui.org) Times Square in New York City is often referred to as “the Crossroads of the World.” It attracts a lot of tourists, including those from China. Times Square has seen many more Chinese tourists during the long holiday period of Chinese New Year recently, with many of them being students.
The Falun Gong truth-clarification site at Times Square was established in November 2013. Falun Gong practitioners have since then volunteered to be on site every day to display posters, inform tourists of facts of the persecution and help them quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.
Mother: “Please Also Help My Son”
When a mother and son visited Times Square, a practitioner greeted them and handed them some truth-clarification materials. The mother agreed to quit the Young Pioneers, the only CCP organization that she was a member of.
Afterwards, she pointed to her son and said, “He is a member of the Young Pioneers, too. Please also help him.” The son was very happy: “Alright! I'll quit it too.”
Teacher: “They Are Talking about Truth-Compassion-Forbearance”
Scores of students visited with their teacher, and a practitioner gave all of them materials. One student asked, “Are you Falun Gong?” The practitioner replied, “Yes, are you a member of the Youth League? Have you quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations?”
The student said, “I have not joined the Youth League yet. I was just a member of the Young Pioneers. However, I am no longer part of it, as I'm over-age now.” Another student overheard it and said that he was once a member of the Young Pioneers as well. He asked why he should renounce his membership.
The practitioner told them, “Falun Gong is a high-level Buddha law, cultivating Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. The CCP staged the self-immolation on Tiananmen Square to instigate hatred against Falun Gong practitioners. It also harvests organs from living Falun Gong practitioners! An evil organization such as the CCP will meet with its retribution.
“When you made the vow to join the CCP or its affiliated organizations, you have pledged your life to it. It isn't something that will automatically expire with age unless you take a specific action to renounce the vow.” The practitioner added.
A student asked his teacher, “Teacher, are they talking about truth, kindness and beauty?” The teacher responded, “No. They are talking about Truth-Compassion-Forbearance.”
The teacher and students listened attentively to the practitioner and asked questions. In the end, many students took truth-clarification brochures and software to circumvent the Internet censorship.
“I Have Quit it. I'm Here Again for My Classmates.”
Five young men stopped by the Falun Gong site at Times Square once. They were Chinese studying in the U.S. When asked if they had quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, one of them said, “I did it a few days ago. I have come with my classmates for them to do the same.”
Once two Chinese students came by. The practitioner told them to quit the CCP and its affiliated organization. The taller one said, “I have converted to Buddhism. I should be OK without doing this.” The other student said, “This is a big deal. I have to discuss it with my mother.”
The practitioner continued speaking to the taller student, “You are very kind. Buddhism talks about what goes around comes around. When you joined the CCP organizations, you vowed to dedicate your life to it. Now if you don't do anything to renounce your membership, you are still a part of it. Joining the movement of quitting the CCP is not only liberating yourself, but also awakening others. Just look at these bloody facts of the persecution!”
He understood and quit the Young Pioneers and Youth League. He also took some materials and said, “Don't worry. I will persuade my friend to quit the CCP organizations.”
“Give Me a Copy. I Would Like to Know the Facts.”
Several Chinese men were taking pictures of the night scenes on Times Square. A practitioner spoke to them and offered materials, but they had no response.
The practitioner then said, “You have watched the Chinese Central Television (CCTV) news for decades in China. You should read the Epoch Times and watch New Tang Dynasty Television (two independent Chinese-language media) in America!”
One of them agreed, “Yes, give me a copy of your material. I would like to know the facts!”
Once another group was taking pictures. One introduced himself as the president of a university. Some in the group didn't take materials and made fun of the practitioners.
A practitioner spoke to the university president, “If educational leaders don't know the facts and don't quit the CCP organizations, then they are indeed helping the evil CCP big time!”
The university president didn't say anything but gradually moved to the end of the group. He turned around and extended his hand to the practitioner, “Give me a copy. Thank you!”
Helping Friends in Mainland China
Four young men from southern China stopped by one day. They said they had heard about quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations and wanted to make sure that the practitioner could indeed help them do so.
They took a copy of all types of materials and said that they would share the materials with their friends in mainland China: “The CCP is so bad! We will help them quit it too.”
Once, a member in a group of over 10 took a copy of the materials, but didn't say anything. He just listened quietly to the practitioner informing him of the persecution. He waited until the entire group had left and the tour guide signaled him to go to the vehicle. As he ran to the car, he turned around and waved to the practitioner: “Youth League and Young Pioneers for me!” The practitioner created an alias for him. He said, “Great!”
“Please Take Care of Yourself”
A man from mainland China listened to practitioners for over an hour in the cold and wind. He had many of his questions answered. He thanked the practitioners quite a few times and quit the CCP in the end.
As he said goodbye, he shook hands with the practitioners: “Thank you so much. I will read Zhuan Falun after I go home. You have worked so hard! Please take care of yourself.”
