BOSTON—The gray-blue sky, with spring still waiting, was a perfect umbrella above the booming voice of Steve Lancione from South Boston as his words filled the Commons:
"No more killing. Stop the Torture. No more Chinese Communist Party."
And for all we know, his words might have been heard as far away as the Chinatown Gate-the site for another Rally to Quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Sunday.
The simple, powerful chant resounded throughout the Boston Common at least three or four times on Saturday, April 14, during the "Be a Witness to the End of the Chinese Communist Party" Rally that took place during the afternoon.
Laurel Martino from Medford, when asked by this writer if she had ever heard about the persecution of Falun Gong, replied with a question of her own: "Where are the media? I'm surprised the major newspapers and TV stations are not here ... I really cannot understand why our media is not telling people about this."
Speakers from all walks of life—from the Boston area as well as individuals who grew up in communist ruled countries such as Belarus, Poland, and Vietnam—spoke of their experiences. Even people from the audience were moved to speak their mind.
"I think it's a disgrace that you can't believe and practice what you want," said Grace Diorio from Everett. "It's just so, so wrong. Every time I walk by here, I start to cry." Her high school son, Anthony, seemed to finish his mom's thought with, "I find this (referring to the persecution of Falun Gong) to be a disgrace to the Chinese people and it makes me want to cry too. It's so sad."
With Chinese drums rolling between speakers, the overall mood was surprisingly upbeat-yet serious. For those not well versed in communist ideology and its methods of deception, the talk by Maria Salzman, born and raised in Poland under communist rule, put it all in perspective.
Now living with her husband in Quincy, she spoke without any notes about the experiences of growing up in a family in which her own father was a high official in the communist government. But everyone is a pawn under the communist ideologyfear is the name of the game. No one is safe; everyone lives in fear and uncertainty.
One poignant episode happened when she was nine. The family is home, it is night, and the father tells them: "If someone knocks at the door, make sure you say, 'Goodbye to everyone.'" Ms. Salzman said that 8 million Polish people, one-quarter of the population, were killed under communist rule and most Polish people still to this day do not know the truth of this tragedy.
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Businessman Suan Kuo, also from Quincy, recounted his experience growing up in communist Vietnam and how as a child in second grade they were taught that communism was good, that Ho Chin Min was the father of the country, and that being patriotic was honorable. And that the teacher sends the kids out to pick up grenades on the street. Yes, some died-but they were taught that's patriotism.
Speaker after speaker painted a gruesome picture of how the true nature of communism is hidden from the people who are under its rule. Michael Tsang, Rally Coordinator, spoke at length about the importance of quitting the Chinese Communist Party. At times sounding like a graduate school seminar, his talk revealed the inner workings of the CCP and at the same time the illusionary Western policy toward the People's Republic of China. Mr. Tsang pointed out that the 25-year-old policy of economic engagement with China-in hopes that it will become more democratic and live up to a basic code of human rights-is a total failure.
Not understanding the true nature of the CCP, the American government and governments worldwide, as well as corporations, are now in a precarious situation-without any intelligent plan to stop what some are calling the China Century. China under the CCP becomes the dominant economic and military power in the world. Tsang pointed out that if that scenario should come to pass, the implications are not pleasant for any of us. Just look at how the CCP handles its own citizens.
What is the solution? According to Tsang the answer lies in a grassroots movement started in 2004 with the publication by The Epoch Times of the award-winning book "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party." If truth has the power to set you free, then this powerful little book, banned in China, has the power to ignite hearts and minds. To date, over 20 million Chinese have publicly renounced the CCP. According to the Global Coalition for Quitting the CCP, between 20,000 and 30,000 people are withdrawing from the CCP and its affiliated organizations daily.
Called "tuidang" in Chinese-quitting the CCP-the rally at the Boston Common, Tsang said, is to show support for the millions who are learning the truth about the CCP and have the courage and conviction-at great risk to their lives-to take a stand and tuidang. Or as one voice put it: "No more Chinese Communist Party."
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