FLUSHING, New York City—The first time Falun Gong adherents met NY State Assemblywoman Ellen Young was on July 2. They shared their experience of more than a month of repeated assaults from gangs allegedly hired by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Yet Falun Gong practitioners were disappointed with their meeting because Young did not respond to practitioners' request to publicly condemn the CCP's violence in Flushing. She defended the CCP-hired gangs, and moreover, she criticized Falun Gong for disturbing her.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 1:00p.m., but Young did not meet with practitioners until 1:30p.m. When she arrived, Young insisted that reporters leave her office or she would refuse to meet with Falun Gong practitioners. The meeting finally began at 2:20p.m, and lasted about 40 minutes.
During the meeting, practitioners tried to show Young a video that revealed one particular assault on May 17, but the assemblywoman had no patience to watch the short clip.
Young even attempted to defend attackers in the video, "These Chinese people were heart-broken over the Sichuan Disaster," she said. Echoing CCP propaganda, Young insisted that Falun Gong believes God will eliminate China. Yet Falun Gong spokesman Zhang Erping explained that the banner actually states, "God will wipe out the CCP; God bless China."
One segment of video that Falun Gong adherents showed Young, revealed Peng Keyu of the Chinese Consulate stating that he personally instigated these attacks, but she did not want to continue watching. First she asked Zhang whether the video has been reported. Zhang asked her to watch the entire video before asking questions, but she grew even more impatient.
"Please give me an answer now," Young said.
"This video is very important to the whole issue," said Zhang.
"Everything is important, including my question," said Young. "I am not in the position to judge anybody. I am here to listen. I am a good listener," Young said.
Young—'Falun Gong Blocks the Driveway'
Before Falun Gong practitioners started talking, Young continued to say, "What made me ashamed is that a group of people blocked the driveway." Practitioners explained to her that a crowd did form after CCP hired gangs began assaulting Falun Gong practitioners, but for the past four years since Falun Gong had been handing out their flyers and materials in this area, there had not been any traffic tie-ups.
Practitioners emphasized to Young that the key issue was not the traffic, but the violence against Falun Gong adherents. Some CCP-hired individuals even held banners saying "Eliminate Falun Gong." Yet Young insisted on her conclusion. "I have to reiterate my opinion," she said, "You blocked the driveway."
Young also insisted that the Falun Gong marching band had disturbed the peace of the local residents and was an annoyance to her. "I got hundreds of complains when the Falun Gong band was playing music in the street," she said.
As an assemblywoman, Young did nothing when Falun Gong adherents faced death threats from CCP-hired gangs. "I worry about my safety," said Ms. Zhang, a Flushing resident. "I even have to coax my son to go to school everyday because he's scared. He doesn't dare to claim he's a Falun Gong practitioner in public." Zhang said the police tried their best to help her and her family, "But our assembly members never do anything for us."
During the meeting, Young refused to condemn the violence waged against Falun Gong. On their way out, Falun Gong practitioners asked Young's assistant to pass on the facts—the violence was incited by the CCP because the CCP is afraid of the Quitting the CCP Movement. They said Young must understand what the real issue is about as it is an issue of right and wrong. Violence against Falun Gong practitioners is a crime of hatred.
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