Let¡¯s Walk Together

 

---- SOS: Urgent Rescue of the Falun Gong Practitioners Persecuted in Mainland China

 

Subtitle:            ¡°July 19th, 2001

                        Capital Hill in Washington D.C.¡±

 

[Narrator]: Over 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners from all over the world, officials of the United States government, and representatives from various international organizations, have gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol Building, to appeal to all kind-hearted people around the world to rescue Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in China. With their presence, they salute those in China who risk their lives to persist in practicing ¡°Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.¡±

 

(Speeches of the representatives from all walks of life)

 

[Narrator] During the speeches at the Capitol, each one of us who participated in the SOS walk that started in Boston and ended in Washington D.C. experienced all sorts of emotions.  The unforgettable experiences of walking together for 21 days came back to mind:  the difficulties as well as the support of passersby and members of the press, the recollections of those who wished us well or even joined us for a while .

 

[the Title: ¡°Let¡¯s Walk Together¡±]

 

[Narrator] On June 26, 2001, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we three Falun Gong practitioners from Boston and one practitioner from Connecticut started a 26-day, 450-mile SOS walk from Boston to Washington D.C.  Our purpose was to let more people know the truth about Falun Gong and to call for public support of efforts to rescue Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in China.

 

[Narrator] Looking at the long road ahead of us, we knew the real test was about to start.

 

[Narrator]A week later, more than a dozen Falun Gong practitioners from New York, New Jersey, Taiwan and Australia started their SOS walk from New York City to Washington DC.

 

[Narrator] At a press conference in front of the World Trade Center, a practitioner from China told her personal experience of the persecution in China:

 

[Si-Hui Li] While I was in China, I went to Beijing to appeal three times and was detained three times. I was treated badly in prisons. Falun practitioners¡¯ situation in China is terrible. Everyday there are practitioners who are sent to labor camps, who lose their families, and who have to face the brutal torture at the hands of the police. There are no human rights in that environment. I hope that, through this walk, we can tell people about this persecution and  awaken their consciences.  we hope that they can extend a helping hand.   

 

[Narrator] In the following days, the SOS walkers passed Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth in New Jersey.  On July 7th, they met in Hyde Park, New Jersey, with the walkers from Boston, who had been walking for over ten days. Practitioners shared their experiences.

 

[Subtitle:¡°July 7th, Hyde Park, New Jersey.¡±]

 

[Wang Hao], Hello, everyone. My name is Hao Wang. I¡¯m sixteen years old and I¡¯m a high school student.

 

[Meng Yang Jian]  My name is Meng Yang Jian. I¡¯m sixteen years old.

 

[Erin Elliot]            I¡¯m Erin. I¡¯m nineteen years old.

 

[Practitioner A] I¡¯m from New York

 

[Practitioner B] I¡¯m from Taiwan

 

[Wang Hao]. When I¡¯m very tired during the walk, I think of the practitioners in mainland China who are being tortured. Our tribulation is nothing compared to what they¡¯re going through.

 

[Practitioner C]. I hope that people throughout our society can extend their helping hands, to rescue the Falun Gong practitioners who are persecuted in China.

 

[Narrator] At the news conference in Princeton University on the following morning, Ying Chen, a resident of Marlton, New Jersey, told the story of her 29 year old brother, Gang Chen.  Gang was incarcerated a labor camp in June 2000. Within a few months, due to police torture, he lost over 40 pounds and his hair turned white.

 

[Narrator] One-woman practitioner from Australia talked about why she wanted to join the Walk. (MiMi¡¯s interview in English, omitted in the script i)

 

 

[Narrator] Memories of these news conferences reminded me of a news conference that took place in Beijing on Oct 26, 1999. A dozen of Falun Gong practitioners in China had risked their lives to organize that conference to let the outside world know the truth of the persecution. Various Western news agencies attended the conference. Some of the organizers of the conference were later detained and imprisoned by the police and some were reported to have died from torture while in police custody. Throughout our walk, the courage of practitioners in China in the face of grave danger was a big inspiration for us when we experienced hardships and obstacles.

 

[Narrator] On our way to Washington DC, we passed a spacious grassland. Two hundred years ago, it was here that the patriotic soldiers led by General George Washington fought with the British army. Although the number of the patriotic troop was only one tenth that of the British army, they won the battle with their high morale and their determination for freedom.   NOTE:  I would omit this paragraph.  I think this political fight has nothing to do with the persecution of FG and is an appeal to patriotism.

 

[Narrator] At sunrise, we started the walk again. After crossing this big bridge we entered the State of Pennsylvania.  Journalists followed and interviewed us throughout the journey. During the first few days of our Walk, passersby had asked us the purpose of our walk, but by this time a lot of people had already read about us in the newspapers and wished us good luck.

 

[Subtitle: July 10th, Pennsylvania]

 

[Narrator] In order to arrive in Philadelphia on schedule, we had to rush. After many days under the baking sun, everyone felt exhausted. Carrying one more bottle of water felt like carrying a mountain.

 

[Narrator] In the afternoon the weather suddenly changed and it started raining. At this time we realized we were lost. Everyone got quiet and wondered what to do next.  Seeing that the elderly walkers were all very exhausted, one of us suggested, ¡°As we have walked the wrong way, let¡¯s take a ride to where we should be.¡± However, the elderly walkers refused: ¡°It is our fault that we lost our way. It should not be an excuse. Master told us to speak the truth, do true things and be a true person. We should walk to Philadelphia step by step.¡± So we continued on in the rain¡­

 

[Narrator] The storm stopped and the clouds dispersed. We were finally welcomed by blue sky and sunshine.

 

[Subtitle July 11th, Philadelphia]

 

[Narrator]  The next morning we arrived in Philadelphia at the square in front of the Freedom Bell.

 

[Narrator] In 1751 the Pennsylvania State Council bought this Freedom Bell to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the early establishment of the law that promotes human rights and freedom. 250 years ago, the declaration ¡°To spread freedom to every corner of the human world¡± was spread around the land. However, today in China, the government persecutes those who believe in ¡°Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance.¡± Practitioners of Falun Gong persist in their practice and struggle for the most basic human rights with their blood, tears and even lives.

 

[Narrator] Yesterday and today, people¡¯s quest for liberty and justice continues.

 

[Narrator] After leaving Philadelphia, we arrived at the highway through Delaware and Maryland and started the most difficult part of the journey.

 

[Narrator] At night when we got to our resting place, we turned on the computer and read an article from Clearwisdom.net about the experience of practitioners in China who went to Beijing to appeal:

¡°In early 2000 many practitioners went to Beijing to appeal. Police were stationed at every bus stop and each major intersection. So Dafa practitioners walked to Beijing on foot, from the north and the south and all over the country. It was in the season of sand storms. Along the highway, those who were walking were all Dafa practitioners. (One after another, two or three together, walking with determination along the highway toward Beijing. The sand storm blowing toward Dafa practitioners from the spacious plain, covered the sky.)  Like this, thousands of Dafa practitioners walked to Beijing to Tiananmen Square)

 

[Subtitle:  ¡°July 15, Baltimore¡±]

 

[Narrator] Today, we entered Baltimore port, which was crowded with people.

 

[Narrator] I could not help thinking of the support and encouragement so many kind-Americans  had given us along our way.

 

[Narrator] When we passed Elizabeth, New Jersey, the mayor of the city, Mr. Bollwage, wrote to Master Li Hongzhi, ¡°In the hard journey of waking up the people to know about the two-year persecution against Falun Dafa in China, the principle of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance has encouraged numerous people around the world.¡±

 

[Narrator] When we walked in the rain to Philadelphia, one woman slowed down her car and said, ¡°You will definitely walk to Washington D.C. You will do it.¡±

 

[Narrator] When we were exhausted and thirsty, the owner of a fruit store gave us a bag of cherries.

 

[Narrator] When we were about to leave Baltimore, one elderly gentleman hugged us one by one. With tears in his eyes, he said, ¡°Thank you for coming to Baltimore and thank you for brining the truth.¡±

 

 

[Subtitle: July 17th, Washington DC.]

 

[Narrator] On the afternoon of July 17, we arrived at the final destination of the journey --- the Washington Monument.

 

[Narrator] During the following several days, the walkers and the 3,000 Falun Dafa practitioners from all over the world held a rally in Washington DC. We called for public support of the SOS Urgent Rescue of the Falun Gong Practitioners Persecuted in China.

 

(Speeches at the Capitol Hill)

 

[Narrator] Dear friends, thank you for walking with us. We will forever remember your support, help, understanding and kindness.

 

[Narrator] Our respected Falun Gong practitioners in China, although you¡¯re in a difficult time you are not alone. Overseas Falun Dafa disciples and kind people all over the world are standing with you throughout this ordeal and will step into a bright future with you!

 

[Subtitle:

¡°We appeal to the governments of all the countries, the international organizations, and the kind-hearted people to give us support, help to resolve the crisis in China.¡± ]

           

                                                                                    ------ Li Hongzhi

Note:  Check this quotation.  It seems to be missing a couple prepositions (to).