Kudos to Alesi and state Senate for supporting the Human Rights Torch Relay

This letter is for Sen. Jim Alesi and the New York State Senate. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to you for supporting the Human Rights Torch Relay organized by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong. And we thank you for sponsoring the Senate resolution welcoming that torch relay to Albany on April 30.

The same resolution was put forward in the state Assembly on April 21, but unfortunately was treated as a controversial issue and killed by Speaker Sheldon Silver. However, in light of the fact that about 70 members of the Assembly co-signed the measure carried over by Assemblyman Jack McEneny, we consider the resolution a moral success, and we thank everyone for their support!

We understand that some people are still unaware of the atrocities occurring in China today. The Human Rights Torch Relay strongly condemns the Chinese communist regime’s ruthless crackdown in Tibet; its underwriting of genocide in Darfur; its silencing of lawyers and reporters; its policy of cultural genocide toward the Uyghur people; its torture and killing of Christian believers; and its brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong and other groups have not only been banned from the Olympic Games, but in fact, China’s ruling party has been using the Beijing Olympics as an excuse to intensify its persecution of these peaceful groups. In preparation for the Games, the regime has arrested nearly 2,000 additional Falun Gong practitioners since Jan. 1 alone. Moreover, there is now overwhelming evidence that incarcerated Falun Gong practitioners have been given physical examinations and killed for their vital organs, and that this practice has been sanctioned by the ruling party behind the scenes.

Following its practice of double-speak, China’s communist regime labels the groups that it persecutes today as “cults,” “terrorist organizations,” etc. We want to reiterate that Falun Gong is a peaceful meditative discipline based on traditional Eastern spiritual foundations. Put simply, it’s a morning exercise practice that provides a way for people to improve their spiritual and physical well-being. The moral principles it stresses are similar to those of other orthodox belief systems, such as Buddhism, Christianity or Judaism. Falun Gong is free and open without prerequisite or obligation, and people come and go as they please. It has nothing to do with a “cult.”

Betraying the promises it made to improve human rights when it was awarded the 2008 Olympics, the government of the People’s Republic of China now says that the Olympics is just a games about sport. However, according to the International Olympic Committee’s charter, “Any form of discrimination against nation or person because of race, religion, political view, gender or other reason is inconsistent with membership in the Olympic movement.”

Let us be clear that the Human Rights Torch Relay is not an “anti-China” movement. On the contrary, it is calling attention to the crimes of the Chinese Communist Party, largely against the Chinese people. We encourage you to continue your support by raising awareness among those around you. Let’s not remain silent, as the world did before the Nazi-hosted 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Let’s not forget how, at that time, the public appeals made by Jewish people in America went unheard for years largely because of the prejudices that they faced.

With our combined efforts, we aspire to bring the true Olympic spirit to the Chinese people and the rest of the world by expressing hope for a world free of crimes against humanity.

Leejun Taylor

Gloversville