Today is the 8th year of persecution endured by Falun Gong and largely ignored by the world.

Political, academic, social, business and religious leaders must stand together to say no to China’s despotic treatment of religious believers.

We must have the political will as a people to say NO to repression, to say NO to persecution, to say NO to extra judicial killings, to say NO to illegal detentions and torture committed against people of faith in China.

Statement of Joseph K. Grieboski
Founder and President
Institute on Religion and Public Policy

Falun Gong Rally

July 19, 2007

Statement of Joseph K. Grieboski at Falun Gong Rally

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to tell you that it is an honor for me to be with you today, but I cannot. In fact, it is an embarrassment. I am embarrassed for me, for the assembled Members of Congress, and for all of us who will address you today and who have known Falun Gong for so long.

It is an embarrassment that we HAVE to still be here, rallying for the cause of Falun Gong’s freedom;

It is an embarrassment that so many years later, we continue to fight for Falun Gong members’ rights to believe and practice their faith without constant fear of discrimination, torture, persecution, and death at the hands of the tyrants in Beijing;

It is an embarrassment that when Falun Gong members are being tortured, Christians detained, Buddhists infiltrated and Muslims targeted by Beijing, the world remains silent;

It is an embarrassment that American businesses would rather kowtow to the oppressive desires of the Beijing government than stand up for principles of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press;

And ladies and gentlemen, the greatest embarrassment of all is that none of this has to be taking place!

American political, academic, social, business and religious leaders must stand together to say no to China’s despotic treatment of religious believers.

We must have the political will as a people to say NO to repression, to say NO to persecution, to say NO to extrajudicial killings, to say NO to illegal detentions and torture committed against people of faith in China.

And we must have the will to say NO to American businesses and to politicians who will not say NO to China.

Thank you, and let’s continue the fight!