Holding the CCP Accountable for Acts of Terror and Abuse — Remarks by Serkan Tas, Deputy Director of the Victims of Communism

On July 17, 2025, marking the 26th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong, 1,500 Falun Gong practitioners and supporters from the eastern United States gathered on the National Mall near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., calling to “Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong.” More than a dozen U.S. officials, human rights leaders, and advocates delivered speeches in support of Falun Gong.

Ahead of the rally, officials from the U.S. State Department and over ten bipartisan members of Congress issued statements condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution and demanding its immediate end.

Serkan Tas, Deputy Director of China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, said:

“On behalf of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, I would like to again thank you for your courage and unwavering determination in supporting freedom in China. We will continue to fight, expose the dangers of communism to humanity, and hold the CCP accountable for its acts of terror and abuse.”

He noted that the persecution launched by the CCP has spread beyond China and is not limited to Falun Gong practitioners. He said, “Currently, the CCP is collecting genetic data from Uyghurs as part of a forced organ transplantation program and seeking so-called DNA-matched ‘donors.’ Most alarmingly, China plans to triple the number of organ harvesting facilities in Xinjiang by 2030.”

Tas reminded people to remain vigilant: “The CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong has already crossed national borders. The Chinese authorities frequently carry out transnational repression, including within the United States.”