Coming For You

Dear audience, we're here in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York. For 26 years, Falun Gong practitioners have faced persecution by the Chinese Communist Party. Today, practitioners in New York are holding a powerful parade to call for an end to that persecution. One part of the parade really stands out, the performers from Shen Yun performing art. Today, they are here with us and look like they've stepped straight out of a classical painting. Graceful, poised, and full of spirit, off the stage and into the street, bringing a message of truth and blessings to the world. They're here for you and for all of us. But what many people don't know is that behind their beauty and elegance, many of these performers carry painful memories. Stories of loss, separation, and courage. Many of their family members have suffered brutal persecution for their faith. Some have lost parents. Others have been torn from loved ones at a young age. Today, they are speaking out to share their stories. Standing in front of me is a sweet young girl named Claire Zhao. What a lovely name. When I first saw her, she struck me as full of joy and light. But behind her smile is a story of deep fear and hardship since her childhood. Because of her family's faith, her father was arrested and tortured. Would you share your story with everyone? Both of my parents began practicing Falun Dafa in 1998. Then on July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party began its persecution. My dad went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Dafa, but he was arrested. My parents are from Shandong province and both worked as doctors. After the arrest, police sent my dad back to Shandong. He was held in a detention center. At first, they tried to get his colleagues and family members to pressure him into giving up his belief. But he didn't give in. So they locked him in a metal cage with a tiny iron bench. They shackled him to the iron bench, left a bright light on him 24-7 so he couldn't sleep, and beat him to make him renounce his faith. What kind of cage was it? It was a very small iron cage. Oh my goodness. Eventually, the hospital where he worked bailed him out, and he was released. But even after that, the police kept harassing us. They would show up at our home, often in the middle of the night, and search everything. They'd take valuable belongings, money, and all of our Falun Dafa books. And this just kept going? Yes. Then in 2008, because the pressure was too much, my parents took me and fled to South Korea. But even there, we weren't safe. CCP agents still harassed us. They'd walk around outside, outside our windows late at night, trying to look inside. Sometimes they came and damaged our property, for example, cutting our Internet cable. Hello everyone, my name is Kathy. I am a lead dancer with Shen Yun, performing arts. I've been with Shen Yun for almost 12 years, and I've been a lead dancer for about two years now. Kathy also has a deeply emotional story. Her grandmother was persecuted by the CCP for her belief in Falun Gong. Yes. In 1999, when the CCP began persecuting Falun Gong, my grandmother was arrested twice. The first time, she was detained for about a year and a half. The second time, she was held for eight months. During that time, her health really declined. They didn't want to deal with her anymore. Eventually, they released her. My grandmother was in poor health. My parents found it strange. It was because when she first returned to China, she was completely healthy. But less than two years later, we were told she had late-stage lung cancer. Her health had declined so quickly. That's when my mom wanted to go back to mainland China to check on her. Because my grandmother was in poor health, my mom really wanted to go back to take care of her. But when she went to the Chinese consulate in Sydney to apply for a visa, they denied her. She went several times to apply again and again, but they still wouldn't grant her one. My mom told me that one time she submitted her passport with the application, and the person at the consulate actually threw it back at her. He said, you have the freedom to practice Falun Gong in Australia, and then I have the freedom not to let you return to see your mom. At that point, the doctor had twice issued notice of critical condition for my grandmother. So my mom kept applying for a visa, and they kept denying her. So my mom reached out to the Australian Foreign Ministry for help. They put a lot of pressure on the Chinese consulate, and finally she was granted a one-month visa. Then, in April 2001, my mom went back to China for that month. She had to return to Australia after a month. When she was in China, she was able to see my grandmother. My mom is an only child, and my grandmother really wanted her to stay longer. But when the month ended, she had to go back to Australia. They wouldn't let her extend the visa. After that, around November, my mom wanted to visit my grandmother again, because my grandmother already knew the end was near. Even then, they still wouldn't approve another visa. And then, in December, my grandmother passed away. Standing next to us now is another Shen Yun performer. I'm actually a former dancer. Shen Yun's former lead dancer, Stephen Wong. We're so happy to see you here today. Would you like to say a few words to the audience? Are you also here for the parade? Yes, I'm honored to be part of the parade today. July 20 is a very meaningful day. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I wanted to be here and do my part. My family began practicing Falun Dafa relatively early, back in 1997. But when the persecution began in 1999, my parents were targeted and imprisoned. My father passed away in 2009 due to the persecution, and my mother, she has also been arrested and imprisoned many times. To this day, she is still in prison. She has been detained 11 times. My youngest aunt was persecuted to death in June 25. The whole experience has been incredibly painful for my family. It was a long and difficult journey filled with sadness. And for me, personally, it's been an especially hard ordeal to go through. We just finished speaking with Shen Yun performer, Louis. We now meet his mother. My sister Gao Rongrong worked at the Liuxin Academy of Fine Arts. She was tortured with electric batons by CCP police for seven hours. Her face was disfigured, and later she was persecuted to death. To force my parents to cremate her, police tried to arrest my older sister. At that point, we had no choice but to flee and go into hiding. Because of that, my sister's body was never given a proper burial. How long ago did this happen? This year marks exactly 20 years. So even now, your sister still hasn't been laid to rest? That's right. As a performer with Shen Yun, I feel that every year on tour, we help expose the persecution through our performances. That mission really resonates with me, because I came from that environment myself. So when I'm on stage, I feel even more connected to what we're expressing. I truly hope to help share the truth with the world. I also want to add that during this parade, we're taking the opportunity to speak the truth, reach kind-hearted people, and call on everyone to help us. We hope more people will join us in rescuing those who are still being persecuted. I feel like it's very special that we're able to come here today, because usually when we're on stage, we're very far from the audience. But here we get to see people face-to-face and kind of show them who we are, another side of ourselves. So I really appreciate that. Something truly remarkable happened during today's parade, almost like a sign from above. Just after noontime, the sky suddenly opened up with a heavy downpour, as if washing away years of dust from the city. But right at one o'clock, as the parade was about to begin, and as the Shen Yun performers arrived, the rain stopped. Blue skies broke through white clouds drifted by, and the sun came out with a radiant smile. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. It felt like we truly followed the will of the heavens. The divines are here with us. The Chinese Communist Party is already at the end of its rope. In its final moments, it continues to use every underhanded tactic, not just persecuting Falun Gong practitioners inside China, but reaching across borders. Lately, even the New York Times has published misleading stories about Shen Yun. What are your thoughts on this? As for me, I've been with Shen Yun since 27. I don't think I need to say too much about what Shen Yun really is. Those who understand, just understand. It speaks for itself. If Shen Yun went good, then why would so many people choose to stay and be part of it? And what many people may not realize is every Shen Yun performer is a Falun Dafa practitioner. I think it hurts a lot, but I feel like the saddest thing is that a lot of people won't get to know the truth. They will just read it and think it's like that, when actually our experience is very different. So I really hope that people can hear what we have to say and understand what it's actually like from the people that have actually been there. What they report is simply not true. I have been with Shen Yun for 12 years, and I can honestly say that my experience is nothing like what's been written. We all live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. My personal experience has been completely different from what's being reported. Shen Yun's mission is to share China's 5,000 years of traditional culture and to tell the truth about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. That's our purpose. We want people to understand what our lives are really like, so they won't be misled by smear campaigns or false reports. If more people know the truth, it will help us too. Thanks to the long-term persistence of Falun Gong practitioners and the participation of Shen Yun artists, more kind people have come to know the truth. Do you like this parade? Of course I like it. What moved me today is the Shen Yun group at the front. This represents the pinnacle of a civilized society. They come out in ordinary clothes to parade to express a message. It looks very, very moving. Do you know Falun Gong? Falun Dafa? I've heard about Falun Gong. I know the problems they've had. And the Shen Yun, I was very impressed. Did you come from mainland China? Of course. Are you a U.S. citizen now? I have been for a long time. How long has it been? More than 40 years. No matter your political inclination, many things that are wrong are just wrong. There's not much to say about it, right? Do you understand Falun Gong? Yes. Initially I didn't. Now I think their principles are good. Do you like this parade? Yes. It is amazing. Those people are standing up for justice. I think China needs reform. The one-party system should end. I am not a Communist Party member, but I joined the Communist Youth League when I was young. I think I should withdraw. The Communist Party is wrong. There's nothing to argue about, right? Do you like this parade? I watched it and liked it a lot. Do you know they are persecuted in China? Yes. What do you like about Falun Gong? I like Falun Gong the way it is. This is called walking together. So I walked along like this in ordinary clothes. From the starting point, we walk like this. Perhaps we won't witness the moment when the CCP collapses. We have put in many years of effort to avoid that. Even if we fall asleep and it has collapsed, it would have been worth it. Here's a little episode. While I was talking to Shen Yun performer Stephen Wang, an elder lady approached me from across the street. She recognized me at a glance from my program, The Stories of Life. She was very excited and chatted with me non-stop. Stephen is still waiting here. You know me? Yes. I just left the New York Chinese Christian Community Center. I listen to your program every week. Sorry, my Mandarin isn't very good. Do you like my program? Yes. I like it. I would turn on the TV when your program is on. Thank you. Take care. Do you like Falun Dafa? Yes. Do you like New Tang Dynasty? Yes. I wish you health and longevity. Falun Gong The parade is coming to a close, but the footsteps of Falun Gong practitioners never stop. As long as the persecution continues, Falun Gong practitioners will never be silent. May the truth awaken more people. May the light of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance illuminate every lost soul. Justice will ultimately triumph over evil. Light surely dispels darkness. This is not just a slogan. It is the Falun Gong practitioners' firm belief. May heaven and earth bear witness to a bright and beautiful future. The parade is coming to a close, but the footsteps of Falun Gong practitioners never stop. May the light of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance Light surely dispels darkness. The parade is coming to a close, but the footsteps of Falun Gong practitioners never stop. May the light of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance illuminate every lost soul. May the light of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance illuminate every lost soul.