July 19: DC Rally for Freedom in China and Freedom for Falun Gong

Web Site
http://www.millionminutesofmeditation.org/events/

“Falun Gong community asks supporters to donate meditation in support of human rights in China”

“Tenth years of persecution in China to be commemorated with meditation, music, and messages of hope on the National Mall”

“WASHINGTON, D.C.— Thousands of supporters and practitioners of Falun Gong will gather in the U.S. capital this month to mark the tenth anniversary since the Chinese regime initiated a campaign of imprisonment, defamation, and torture against adherents of the ancient spiritual practice.”

“Among the events planned to commemorate the anniversary is a thousands-strong  meditation event on the National Mall, to be held on July 19. The event is part of the Million Minutes of Meditation campaign, launched online in May 2009,  which seeks to raise one million minutes of meditation to help bring an end to the persecution in China.”

“‘The idea is simple,’ says Jared Pearman, the event’s organizer. ‘In China, people are being imprisoned, tortured and killed for peacefully practicing meditation and seeking to live in accordance with Falun Gong’s principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance. A powerful way to show solidarity and support is for everyone — regardless of your faith or background — to exercise those same rights. Find your own version of inner peace, and donate some of that time to bring peace to China.'”

“The campaign asks people to ‘sit, pray, or meditate’ in contemplation of the meaning of human rights and freedom,  or to reflect on what the principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance mean to them. Meditation minutes can be donated on the National Mall on July 19th,  or online at www.MillionMinutesofMeditation.org.”

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Rally Specifics:

Sunday, July 19

“National Mall, Between 3rd and 4th St.”

“11:00am – 3:00pm : Million Minutes of Meditation”

“3:00pm – 6:00pm : Freedom for Falun Gong Rally”

—  NOTE:  China Support Network’s John Kusumi to speak during 3 to 6 PM rally

“Sponsored by Friends of Falun Gong”

“Contact: Jared Pearman — (202) 441 0317”

“Background:

“Falun Gong, a Buddhist system of meditation and moral self-improvement guided by the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. After it attracted tens of million adherents in Mainland China through the 1990s, China’s rulers began to perceive Falun Gong as ideological competition. The practice was banned on July 20, 1999, and a campaign of intimidation, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, and violent reeducation ensued, continuing to this day.”

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June 5, 2009 – U.S.: John Kusumi, founder of the China Support Network, calls for Chinese people to rise up