U.S. Marine Discovers His Mother Was Attacked for Her Belief in Falun Gong

FLUSHING, New York City—Lance Corporal John Lee Caldwell, 26, came home to New York from North Carolina's Second Marine Division after hearing what happened to his mom. His mother, Mrs. Chen had been beaten and threatened with death by a pro-communist mob during violent attacks against Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing, Queens on May 20. Mrs. Chen has been practicing Falun Gong for eight years.

"I'm home on leave for about ten days just trying to see what happened," said Caldwell.

Caldwell and his mother met with reporters in front of the Quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Service Center booth on Main Street, Flushing, near the library for an interview on Saturday, June 7.

Chen is a Falun Gong practitioner and volunteers at the Service Center booth on Main Street in Flushing. The Service Center assists Chinese to resign from the CCP.

When asked about the attack, Chen said that while she was in Flushing at the Service Center, an angry group of Chinese were cursing at and spitting on Falun Gong practitioners as well as those manning the booth.

Wanting to report the incident to the police, Chen took out her camera and took a photograph of the mob. "They rushed to me without thinking and hit me on the sun acupuncture point [a critical point on the face between the eyes and hair], on my neck, and scratched my face using their fingernails," said Chen.

Chen continued to describe the incident, saying, "I don't understand what we did wrong. This is one thing I can hardly understand. But during all these years, Falun Gong practitioners have been organ harvested in China, and it's been nine years already, and the CCP never stopped persecuting us. It's never had any mercy toward us for even one day. They are persecuting us to death, and that is why I am here right now." With tears in her eyes, Caldwell held his mother as she began to cry.

Caldwell, who plans to leave soon for his second tour in Iraq, said that after receiving news of his mother's attack on his birthday, May 21, he felt both concerned and angered by the incident. "It really just broke my heart," said Caldwell. "No matter where I am in the world, if she needs me, I'll be there. I'm very proud of her and I'll help her to keep doing what she's doing and keep going to let other people know what's going on."

The mob attacks, which were initiated by pro-communist groups in Flushing, began May 17, after CCP-controlled media broadcasted false reports into China and Chinese communities, deceiving people with lies that Falun Gong practitioners had been stopping funds from reaching the victims of the Sichuan earthquake.

Evidence points to involvement by the Chinese Consulate in instigating and encouraging the incident as well as involvement by CCP-controlled student organizations. Since then, numerous threats, as well as verbal and physical attacks, have been directed at Falun Gong practitioners, volunteers at the Quit-CCP Service Center on Main Street, Flushing, as well as staff members of The Epoch Times newspaper.

Caldwell said that he wanted to find out where the crime against his mom had taken place. He also stated his wish to bring the attacker to justice.

"Whoever attacked my mother, they are still out there running around," said Caldwell. "You will be caught. No one threatens my mom and no one threatens my family and the lives of innocent people practicing what they believe in and their right to freedom of speech, press, and religion."

Caldwell expressed what he feels should be done regarding the New York Chinese Consul General Keyu Peng's admitting to encouraging the attacks. "Deport him. If he's going to commit crimes against innocent people, then he should be charged," said Caldwell. "Get him out of the country. … He's putting bad things in people's minds and putting dirty words in their mouths."

Mentioning that his mom, younger brother, and step-dad all practice Falun Gong, he said, "I realize that it brings out your inner beauty. It's very peaceful [and] helps soothe your body, mind, and spirit," said Caldwell.

Caldwell says that he supports his mom and other Falun Gong practitioners in their efforts to clarify the true situation and point out the misconceptions wrought by the CCP in Flushing.

"I will continue to support her in all of this," said Caldwell. "No matter where I am at in the world, I will continue to support her regardless, and I am very proud of her and Falun Gong practitioners to stand for what they believe in and continue to get the word out."