On Solemn Anniversary, U.S. Lawmakers and Other Officials Condemn Chinese Regime over Falun Gong Persecution

Statements express "solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners and their families for the lives, freedoms, and rights they lost for adhering to their beliefs"

United States Senators and Representatives penned 35 letters expressing solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners and condemning the Chinese regime for its “egregious crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners.”

The bi-partisan initiative features letters from 18 Republicans and 17 Democrats. Excerpts as well as links to the original letters are listed below.

Video statements were also made by the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback (below, left) as well as Commissioner Gary Bauer from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (below, right).


Letters from U.S. Lawmakers

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

“Since July 1999, the Chinese government has arbitrarily detained millions of Falun Gong practitioners…Falun Gong practitioners have been interred at reeducation camps, beaten, electrocuted, force-fed, sexually assaulted, starved, and tortured in countless other horrific ways…The Chinese government should immediately cease its arbitrary detention and brutalization of Falun Gong practitioners.”
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Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

“I am proud to lend my voice to support the practitioners of Falun Gong and condemn the continued persecution they face in China.”

 

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Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

“I hope that one day soon Falun Gong practitioners in China and all over the world may exercise their principles free of oppression, as you are free here today.”

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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

“Today, I join you in calling for an end to the persecution of the Falun Gong in China and support your fight for a free and peaceful future.”

 

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Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

“Today marks the 21st anniversary of China’s egregious crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners. I am saddened by this anniversary and the years of persecution it represents.”

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Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)

“On July 20, 2020, I join liberty lovers around the world to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the CCP’s unjust persecution of Falun Gong and the start of its malicious campaign to oppress its practitioners.”

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Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)

“Falun Gong’s followers have been subject to abuse, torture, illegal imprisonment, and extremely cruel practice of organ harvesting. This brutal persecution is intolerable and must stop.”

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Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)

“Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are still wrongfully imprisoned and more face severe discrimination in employment, housing, and business opportunities. No one should have to face the fear of retaliation simply for practicing their beliefs.”

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Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO)

“The injustices facing Falun Gong must end and I will continue to stand with Falun Gong practitioners and their supporters.”

 

 

 

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Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO 6th)

“The crimes that the Chinese government have committed against Falun Gong practitionersforced organ harvesting, false imprisonment, and murder to name a feware intolerable and incompatible with the modern age.”

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Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH 15th)

“I am concerned by the horrific persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China over the past two decades. I will continue to support the Falun Gong community and their religious freedom both here and abroad.”

 

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Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)

“We must never give up on calling for the Chinese Government to stop its unjust campaign of terror targeting Falun Gong practitioners.”

 

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Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)

“It continues to sadden and anger me that Falun Gong followers are paying an unfair price for following what they believe in. You can trust my voice and actions will remain strong with you.”

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Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL)

“I join you in urging the Chinese government to cease its longtime practices of appalling treatment, repression, and isolation of the Falun Gong practitioners.”

 

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Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)

“I support the security of Falun Gong practitioners, and as we approach the 21st anniversary of the beginning of the campaign against practitioners, I stand with you in your call to end the persecution.”

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Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ)

“The resolve, bravery, and commitment of Chinese Falun Gong members to the three core principles of truthfulness, benevolence, and forbearance despite the danger it places one in is the genuine mark of a freedom loving group.”

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Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)

“I would like to express my most sincere support for the practitioners of Falun Gong…The Falun Gong movement has had a deep impact on China and the CCP, launching the largest information freedom campaign in modern Chinese history.”

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Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)

“In commemorating the 21-year anniversary of religious persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, it is imperative that the CCP continue to be held accountable for their actions.”

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Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)

“This mistreatment must end. I will continue to stand with Falun Gong practitioners and supporters across the U.S. and around the world to stop the injustices.”

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Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

“For two decades the Falun Gong practitioners have faced oppression in China. The Chinese government has used unjust political imprisonment, torture, and unconsented organ harvesting to wipe out the Falun Gong.”

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Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL)

“I would like to commend you for your dedication to your faith and your continued efforts to illuminate the atrocities practitioners have suffered under the Chinese government.”

 

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Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI)

“The CCP is an oppressive regime that has long tyrannized the innocent. Their persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and other religious and ethnic minorities must come to an end.”

 

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Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI)

“This year marks the 21st year since the CCP began its violent attacks against the Falun Gong, and we remember the decades of terror and human rights violations experienced by millions of practitioners.”

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Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI 14th)

“The CCP is an oppressive regime that has long tyrannized the innocent. Their persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and other religious and ethnic minorities must come to an end.”

 

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Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH 16th)

“I support the Falun Gong’s resilience and tenacity in their freedom of information efforts against the CCP.”

 

 

 

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Rep. Van Taylor (R-TX)

“Today, I stand to recognize the traditional spiritual practice of Falun Gong, and its moral philosophy centered on the belief of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.”

 

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Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)

“This year marks the 21st anniversary of the beginning of the injustices faced by Falun Gong practitioners at the hand of the People’s Republic of China…I stand in solidarity with your fight against injustice and mistreatment.”

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Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA)

Despite brutal persecution, Falun Dafa has grown, with followers continuing to advocate for human rights…I wish you many more years of health and prosperity in the practice of Falun Dafa.”

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Rep. David Trone (D-MD)

“Any actions to condemn or oppress those who practice Falun Gong – or any other belief system – are both morally wrong and harmful to the fabric of society.”

 

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Rep. Daniel Crenshaw (R-TX)

“Today, the Chinese Communist Party commits vile human rights abuses against the Falun Gong, and we must all speak out against these atrocities. According to numerous reports, Falun Gong prisoners of conscience are killed to supply the black market in human organs. This is beyond unacceptable.”

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Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN)

“I am inspired by your unshakable commitment to human rights and religious freedom. Twenty-one years ago, China began its oppression of the Falun Gong community, and today, I stand with you in solidarity.”

 

 

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Rep. Ron Wright (R-TX)

“I am appalled by the CCP’s crusade against the Falun Gong…we must take further action to condemn and target its forced organ harvesting practices and persecution of the Falun Gong.”

 

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Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI)

“It has been more than 20 years since the CCP first initiated a systematic crackdown on Falun Gong…I am deeply disturbed by Beijing’s decades-long record of persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.”

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Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD)

“Falun Gong practitioners have championed worldwide interfaith and intercultural education, thereby enrich our communities and encouraging positive change.”

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Del. Eleanor Norton (D-DC)

“I take this moment not only to offer my support in ending the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, but to remember those who have died for their beliefs.”

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