PHILADELPHIA—Delaware State Senator Marie Pinkney attended Shen Yun’s evening performance at the Miller Theater on April 14.
After the performance, Sen. Pinkney presented a letter to Shen Yun congratulating the company on their 16th return to Philadelphia. She also conveyed her best wishes for Shen Yun’s continual success.
She thought Shen Yun was very impressive because “there were really, really difficult stories in the history of [China that were told] through beautiful movements.”
Prior to the violent 1949 communist takeover and the spread of atheism, spirituality and the belief in the divine played an important role in traditional China. For 5,000 years, the nation’s culture flourished under the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism.
“I thought it was so beautiful. I was thinking about the baritone and what he was [singing]—the divine creator is the one who puts us all here. We all came here from the heavens, and the divine creator will come back for us—to save us and make sure we’re okay and protected,” she said.Referring to Shen Yun’s portrayal of current human rights issues in China, Sen. Pinkney said she had only recently learned about the extent of China’s illegal organ trade.
“It was painful to watch, but the show was so beautiful—[we’re] really motivated to figure out what we can do and how we can help. Using performative arts [to raise awareness] is the perfect way to get that message to people,” she said.
“I think we all have our parts to play. So, for my role, I try to do as much as I can to impact laws, but I think even on a very basic level—having conversations with people. Make sure that people understand that organ harvesting is still happening.”
Though this was Sen. Pinkney’s first time attending Shen Yun, she’ll definitely be back next year.
“I [have] genuine and heartfelt appreciation for the beauty that was here tonight. There are so many things that I want to go and look up and learn more about,” she expressed.