On the 24th Anniversary, Government Officials Stand in Solidarity with Falun Gong
Members of U.S. Congress who voiced their support of Falun Gong practitioners at the 24th anniversary of the persecution. First row (from left to right): Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Todd YoungSecond row (from left to right): Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Sam Graves, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Gerry ConnollyThird row (from left to right): Rep. Bill Pascrell, Rep. Donald Norcross, Rep. French Hill, Rep. Young KimFourth row (from left to right): Rep. Thomas P. Tiffany, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton
July 20, 2023 marks the 24th anniversary of Falun Dafa practitioners’ peaceful resistance against the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of their faith. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners around the world participated in rallies and parades to call for an end to the persecution, including in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other nations.
On this anniversary, many officials and government agencies in the United States published video statements and letters in support of Falun Gong practitioners and applauded their efforts to expose these crimes against humanity. They also condemned the CCP’s persecution and organ harvesting from living practitioners.
Government officials in other countries similarly sent statements of support, including Parliamentary members from Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, and government officials in Taiwan. In addition to the statements from UK parliamentary members, Lord David Alton also delivered a keynote speech on “Organ Harvesting and Falun Gong” in the British parliament’s House of Lords on July 17, 2023.
The following are compiled statements from U.S. members of Congress, the Department of State, members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Bipartisan Support from Members of Congress
Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives recorded videos or sent letters of support to Falun Gong practitioners, condemning the CCP’s persecution and calling for it to end.
Senator Ted Cruz stated, “For more than two decades, the Chinese Communist Party has violated the human rights of those who practice Falun Gong. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been imprisoned, tortured and murdered by the CCP. They believe that they have the ability to commit these atrocities without repercussions and the world would remain silent. Unfortunately, far too often they have not been proved right.”
The Senator continued, “It is our duty to call out the CCP’s persecution and hold them accountable. I unequivocally denounce China’s inhumane treatment of Falun Gong practitioners. I am proud to stand with you.”
Congressman French Hill said in the above video, “As the world fully knows well, the Chinese Communist Party’s barbarism against Falun Gong in China has been ongoing for over two decades. Over this period millions of Falun Gong practitioners has been detained or imprisoned and thousands have been killed, including the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of forced organ harvesting.”
As a member of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations within the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Hill said he was glad to work with the subcommittee’s Chair, Rep. Christopher Smith, to stand against the brutality. He was proud to co-sponsor H.R.1154 – Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 that sanctions those involved in forced organ harvesting. In addition, the act would target those who fund or facilitate the crime of organ harvesting.
“It’s high time for our nation and like-minded freedom loving countries to address this problem through legislation, and put a stop to not only this inhuman practice, but take a strong stand towards ever-growing aggression of the Chinese Communist Party.”
Congresswoman Young Kim said in her video that we rally together for human rights and against CCP’s horrific human rights abuses like we saw begin 24 years ago against Falun Gong practitioners.
“We also know that there is growing evidence that the CCP is even harvesting organs from religious and ethnic minorities around the world. I’m proud that I recently supported in committee a bill to empower the administration to identify and punish CCP members involved in such heinous acts.”
Senator Todd Young said in his video, “The CCP has systemically persecuted ethnic and religious minorities in China for decades, deploying scare tactics and restricting the freedoms of Chinese people. Groups like Falun Gong have encountered slavery and endured unspeakable human rights abuses in the hands of the CCP. And all this injustice, brutality and abuses occurred under the legal umbrella of the communist laws. The associated practice of faith and culture with extremism and terrorism, in short, the CCP is waging a war of terror against the very ideas of expression of culture and religious belief.”
Letters and statements of support were also sent by the following members of Congress: Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA), Senator Marco Rubio (FL), Senator John Boozman (AR), Representative Bill Pascrell (NJ), Representative Gerald E. Connolly (VA), Representative Nancy Mace (SC), Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Representative David Trone (MD), Representative Sam Graves (MO), Representative Stephen F. Lynch (MA), Representative Tom Tiffany (WI), Representative Lori Chavez-Deremer (OR), Representative Glenn Grothman (WI), and Representative Donald Norcross (NJ).
“I applaud your tireless work defending religious freedom and bringing awareness to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. America’s commitment to human rights in China is bipartisan, bicameral, and unwavering — and we will always remain vigilant in defense of human rights around the world.”
“Twenty-four years ago, thousands of peaceful Falun Gong practitioners were abruptly detained in the Chinese Communist Party’s effort to eradicate the Falun Gong practice. I strongly condemn the tyrannical campaign of the Chinese Communist Party to violate the religious freedom and basic human dignity of Falun Gong practitioners.”
“After the CCP banned the practice of Falun Gong 24 years ago, practitioners of this faith have been horrifically persecuted simply because their beliefs differ from those of the CCP. Because the CCP fears what it cannot control, it resorts to aggressive repression with the goal of marginalizing opposition and abolishing dissent. The CCP should immediately end its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and other religious and ethnic groups, and allow them to freely practice their beliefs.”
“The Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of religious communities and all who seek to free assemble and express themselves should end immediately. No person should face persecution for their sincere religious beliefs, especially when those beliefs are practiced peacefully. Your advocacy and the awareness you are raising…is honorable.”
“Despite a 24-year campaign to eradicate Falun Gong (Falun Dafa), millions of people in and outside of China continue to exercise their basic rights and practice Falun Gong… [and] practitioners have responded to the state-sanctioned violence using entirely peaceful means. They have persistently educated Chinese citizens and people across the globe about the nature of their practice and the persecution against it.”
“Despite enduring two decades of relentless persecution, the Falun Gong community…have embarked on what is the largest information freedom campaign in modern Chinese history. Let us remember the courage of the Falun Gong practitioners who have stood up against the tyranny of the CCP. Their resilience and their fight for freedom are an inspiration to us all, a beacon of hope in our common endeavor for a future free from oppression.”
“Falun Gong is a peaceful religion based on self-improvement through teachings, meditation, slow movements, and regimented breathing. Falun Gong practitioners have suffered mercilessly at the hands of the Chinese government for over two decades. The only crime of those who practice Falun Gong is to be born into a society of intolerance.”
“Today…mark[s] 24 years since the start of the People’s Republic of China’s campaign of pressure against and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. For far too long, China has oppressed dissenting communities and threatened religious freedom. I strongly stand against these threats, and I condemn any kind of human rights abuses.”
“Chinese communism threatens the independence and human rights of free people around the world. The CCP routinely commits human rights abuses such as murder, organ-harvesting, mass false-imprisonment, and unconscionable torture. These genocidal acts are irredeemable and have no place in today’s world.”
“There seems to be no end to the authoritarian Chinese regime’s brutal repression of its own people, of political dissidents, ethnic minorities or those who hold different religious or spiritual beliefs, including Falun Gong practitioners. Despite global pressure and the entreaties of its citizens, the Chinese Government’s appalling human rights abuses have only worsened… [and] are not limited to within its borders. I am proud to stand with you today.”
“It has been more than 20 years since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) first began their systematic crackdown on Falun Gong, subjecting its practitioners to criminal penalties, torture, arbitrary detention, and involuntary organ harvesting. Americans and other friends of freedom around the world stand should to shoulder with those who seek to chart their own democratic future, speak their mind, and worship as they choose without fear of penalty or retribution.”
“I commend your efforts to bring attention to the CCP’s human rights violations which often go unnoticed, or even ignored. The stories I have heard of arbitrary detentions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced organ harvesting against Falun Gong practitioners are nothing short of heartbreaking and unfortunately just one example of the CCP’s lack of recognition of basic human dignity. I look forward to the day when Falun Gong practitioners…can experience freedom of religion without fear of persecution.”
“The CCP has sought to wipe out Falun Gong practitioners through political imprisonment, torture, and the abhorrent practice of organ harvesting. Families have been torn apart and countless lives have been lost. In the face of a regime that seeks to suppress dissent, I applaud your continued bravery in advocating for the Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted by the CCP. It is essential that our institutions, from Congress to the State Department to centers of learning, stand firm in advocating for the respect of all faiths.”
“The meditation practice, Falun Gong is rooted in Buddhism, upholding the tenets such as truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, but millions of practitioners have been systematically detained and imprisoned including thousands who have lost their lives…Over the years, local Falun Dafa practitioners have participated and sponsored large scale efforts to share uncensored information about repressive tactics and technology of the Chinese Communist Party. Today, since 1992 over 100,000,000 people worldwide have practice Falun Dafa.”
Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Pete Sessions (TX) also showed their support via Twitter. Fitzpatrick is a cosponsor of the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R. 4132) introduced on June 14, 2023, aimed at sanctioning and condemning the perpetrators involved with forced organ harvesting in China.
Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country’s foreign policy and relations. Each year, the DOS releases annual reports on the developments of human rights and religious freedom in the world. The persecution of Falun Gong is featured in these reports, particularly in the country chapters for China, Russia, and Vietnam. In 2023, the DOS international religious freedom report highlighted Falun Gong 39 times in its China chapter.
On July 20, 2023, the 24th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller, tweeted: “Today, we recognize 24 years since the People’s Republic of China launched a campaign of repression, inside and outside its borders, against Falun Gong and its millions of practitioners, advocates, and human rights defenders. We stand in solidarity with this community.”
During a news briefing in the Department of State on the same day, Miller mentioned sanctions against several individuals responsible for the persecution. “I think we’ve made our position clear on this,” he said. “We’ve imposed a number of measures already. It’s an issue that remains of concern for us.”
The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large Rashad Hussain also took a stand to contend that the CCP “should end its 24-year persecution of followers of Falun Gong,” that have “targeted and harmed millions of practitioners, including individuals in the U.S.”
Congressional-Executive Commission on China
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) is an independent agency of the U.S. government which monitors human rights and rule of law developments in the People’s Republic of China. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) chair Representative Chris Smith and co-chair Senator Jeff Merkley tweeted the following to condemn the Chinese regime for its ongoing human rights violations:
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is a U.S. federal government commission created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The chair of USCIRF, Abraham Cooper, spoke at the July 20 rally in front of the Capitol Building.
Cooper asked for President Biden to “take more consequential actions to hold the Chinese government and its agents accountable for religious freedom abuses in China and the United States.”
For the full picture on government actions by the United States between 1999-2023, visit:
