On a bitterly cold day, Chinese Americans and their supporters protested in Washington DC today outside the Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Representative Office (HKECRO). They called on the Hong Kong immigration authorities to permit the Shen Yun Performing Arts to perform their Chinese cultural music and dance show in Hong Kong. On Wednesday, January 27 at press conferences at the National Press Club and on Capitol Hill, supporters of the Shen Yun Performing Arts described how the group’s key production staff were denied visas to support the show for sold-out audiences in Hong Kong.
Washington DC: Supporters of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Protesting Outside Hong Kong Office on January 29, 2010
The supporters of the Shen Yun Performing Arts group told of the importance of allowing artistic freedom to permit the show in Hong Kong, which includes traditional Chinese cultural music and dance, as well as stories about modern-day persecution in Communist China of the Falun Dafa and others that seek human freedom. Falun Dafa supporters stated that the Shen Yun show would provide a message of hope to the Chinese people in Hong Kong through the values of truth, compassion, and tolerance.
Dr.Sen Nieh and other leaders spoke in support of the need for the Hong Kong immigration authorities to grant the visas necessary to allow the Shen Yun Performing Arts show to be seen by the Chinese people in Hong Kong. Falun Dafa leader Dr. Shan-Tao Lai presented a letter to the Washington DC Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Representative Office with the Falun Dafa request to allow such necessary visas to be granted. Dr. Lai was accompanied by Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)‘s Jeffrey Imm from the protest group. The Falun Dafa letter was accepted by the Hong Kong office.
Dr. Sen Nieh Speaks Outside Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Representative Office Calling for Approval of Visa for Shen Yun Performing Arts
Another Shen Yun Performing Arts Supporter Calls for Artistic Freedom in Hong Kong
A key message of the Washington DC protesters was to show that they stood as one in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Hong Kong.
On Sunday, January 31, 2010, supporters of the Shen Yun Performing Arts will hold a “grand march and rally” to protest the Hong Kong immigration department’s denial of the visa to seven key members of Shen Yun that has caused the forced cancellation of seven sold out shows. Falun Dafa and Shen Yun supporters anticipate global protests around the world to demonstrate their desire to see the Shen Yun Performing Arts have the opportunity to perform in Hong Kong.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)‘s Jeffrey Imm also spoke at the protest in support of the Shen Yun Performing Arts, stating that such artistic freedom of expression was a vital way of defending our universal human rights. He called for the Hong Kong authorities to change their decision on banning Shen Yun show staff from traveling to Hong Kong so that they can provide their Chinese cultural show to the Chinese people. He also urged Americans to contact their government officials to address the Hong Kong government on this. He stated that the values of truth, tolerance, and compassion shown in the Shen Yun performance was a key part of values essential to our universal human rights, and shared respect for one another. He stated that R.E.A.L.’s motto for the world is “Love Wins.”
