FLUSHING, New York City—After weeks of physical and verbal attacks in Flushing by pro-communist groups, the situation seems to be moving towards change. Tuesday evening ended with approximately 300 Falun Gong practitioners silently holding a candlelight vigil on Kissena Ave., a section of Flushing where many of the attacks took place.
The attacking groups, allegedly connected to and backed by the Chinese Consulate in New York, were targeting Falun Gong practitioners, volunteers at the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and Epoch Times staff.
The incidents began on May 17 when Chinese state-controlled media began fabricating lies in the Flushing area and other Chinese communities that Falun Gong practitioners were stopping donations from reaching victims of the Sichuan earthquake. A voice recording of the New York Chinese Consul General Keyu Peng in which he admits to having encouraged the attacks also points to involvement by the Chinese Consulate.
In response, many Falun Gong practitioners have appeared on the streets of Flushing to pass out information in an effort to resolve misconceptions of the situation, apparently having an impact on local public opinion to a degree.
During a June 10 interview with Rong Yi, vice president of the Service Center, she shared she feels things have been changing because a sharp contrast has been displayed between the pro-communist attackers and the Falun Gong practitioners. In an interview at the Service Center, Yi explained her reasoning.
"I think residents can tell the difference," said Yi. "The people from the [Chinese] consulate look out of control and very crazy, always using bad words. People can figure it out. On the other hand, Falun Gong practitioners are always so peaceful and compassionate, and they still continue to distribute materials. Many people who are local to Flushing become very happy to see that."
CCP Incites Flushing Mobs
Yi also mentioned that the number of Chinese people who have begun to state their withdrawals from the CCP and its affiliated organizations has been increasing, with 20 withdrawals received on June 9 and with 30 withdrawals received on June 8.
In addition to this, many people have begun to offer kind words and gestures to Falun Gong practitioners in the Flushing area. "Some people want to buy bottles of water for them since they're standing in the heat," said Yi.
Jinbing Ni, an electrical engineer, has offered food and beverages to Falun Gong practitioners in the area. After seeing them standing in the sun all day passing out informational materials, Ni also offered umbrellas.
"When necessary, the CCP will exploit the ignorant students by encouraging them to have protests and marches," said Ni. "Once the CCP reaches its agenda, it will ban protests and marches again. Those who do not obey the CCP will be thrown into prison."
Ni also added, "This is a case more serious than criminal and civil offenses. That the CCP is exporting its communist ideology is more serious than any criminal offense."
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