Dear Friends:

Thank you so much for your gracious invitation to the Regional Falun Gong Experience Sharing Conference in Chicago this weekend. Unfortunately, a previous engagement makes it impossible for me to attend the conference, but it is with great pleasure that I extend my best wishes and warmest greetings to all of the participants of the Sharing conference.

On this special occasion, I want you to know that I deeply admire the courage and the persistence by which the practitioners of Falun Gong have used non-violence and persuasion to appeal to the Chinese government to honor their basic fundamental human rights. I support your efforts to reach peaceful and harmonious relations in your nation. In 1999, I co-sponsored legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives ─ House Concurrent Resolution 218 ─ to express the sense of the Congress that the government of the People’s Republic of China should stop its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

My support for the rights of the Falun Gong has not wavered. I call upon all people around the world to join with me in asking the Chinese government to end persecution of these practitioners of peace.

Best regards,

Sincerely,
(Signature )
Bobby L. Rush
Member of Congress