Jennifer Zeng, a subject of Free China, an award-winning documentary about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, was also at the rally. Zeng is one of the victims of the persecution.
After spending two years in a labor camp for practicing Falun Gong, Zeng fled China and obtained asylum in Australia, where she wrote a best-selling book, Witness to History, about her horrific experience.
“It is always wonderful to see so many Congressmen so many people from other organizations stand up,” Zeng said referring to the many members of Congress and NGO’s that had sent letters or spoke at the event.
She noted that this year the U.S. Human Rights Report on China had mentioned organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners as a concern. One of the truly horrific acts perpetrated by the communist regime on the peaceful group, the acknowledgement is part of a change in understanding about China both within the mainland and outside, Zeng said.
“I think the climate is different—although we don’t see much change on the surface, deep down I think things are changing,” she said.
Tide is Turning
After 13 years of state propaganda against Falun Gong, Chinese people are starting to see that the Chinese regime has lied about the practice, Zhang said, with public solidarity evident in demonstrations around the country in support of Falun Gong practitioners.