Rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol steps
“Join 54 M Chinese who have quit CCP”
“Join 54 M Chinese who have quit CCP”
| Heidi M. Pascual* Publisher & Editor * 2006 Journalist of the Year for the State of Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA) |
| For more Asian American stories in Wisconsin, click: |
By Heidi M. Pascual
It was a beautiful, warm and sunny Sunday Spring morning in Madison, Wis., that greeted a group of
advocates and supporters of a movement aimed at reaching out to residents of mainland China to join
them. The Midwest Service Center for Quitting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), led by University of
Michigan computer-science professor, Tommy Xu, was on a 14-city tour of the Midwest states (starting in
Chicago) to promote awareness about the number of Chinese people who have resigned from the CCP
through the website of The Epoch Times. This Midwest group is part of a nationwide movement based in
New York.
T heir big truck, parked along a side street facing the State Capitol building, was painted with big
letters that read “Support 54 Million People Resigning
from Chinese Communist Party and its Affiliates” in Chinese and English, with a blue sky and doves on
the background.
“We hope to bring change to the future,” Xu said in an interview with Asian Wisconzine before the
rally. “We are not fighting anybody; we are actually bringing awareness about the evil nature of the
Chinese Communist Party. We want China to be safer, a better place for the Chinese people.”
Xu explained that after the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party by The Epoch
Times in November 1994, people started to realize the true nature of the CCP. “The ‘Nine Commentaries’
is a series of editorials that give insight into CCP’s history and the message CCP uses to deceive the
It was a beautiful, warm and sunny Sunday Spring morning in Madison, Wis., that greeted a group of
advocates and supporters of a movement aimed at reaching out to residents of mainland China to join
them. The Midwest Service Center for Quitting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), led by University of
Michigan computer-science professor, Tommy Xu, was on a 14-city tour of the Midwest states (starting in
Chicago) to promote awareness about the number of Chinese people who have resigned from the CCP
through the website of The Epoch Times. This Midwest group is part of a nationwide movement based in
New York.
T heir big truck, parked along a side street facing the State Capitol building, was painted with big
letters that read “Support 54 Million People Resigning
from Chinese Communist Party and its Affiliates” in Chinese and English, with a blue sky and doves on
the background.
“We hope to bring change to the future,” Xu said in an interview with Asian Wisconzine before the
rally. “We are not fighting anybody; we are actually bringing awareness about the evil nature of the
Chinese Communist Party. We want China to be safer, a better place for the Chinese people.”
Xu explained that after the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party by The Epoch
Times in November 1994, people started to realize the true nature of the CCP. “The ‘Nine Commentaries’
is a series of editorials that give insight into CCP’s history and the message CCP uses to deceive the
(Clockwise from top right) Univ. of Michigan computer professor
Tommy Xu heads the Midwest 14-city tour; UW-Madison Ph.D.
student Grace Wu emcees; Zhihui Wen, of the Wisconsin Service
Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, explains how to
resign from the CCP; Peter Zheng narrates how he, a Falun Gong
practitioner, was jailed in China for five years and suffered torture
and forced labor; UW-Madison graduate Jim Gebhart talks about
organ-harvesting in China, particularly targeted against Falun
Gong practitioners; Sharon Remer, who organized the Madison part
of the Human Rights Torch Relay last year — a global movement
against China hosting the Olympic Games — explains what Falun
Gong is all about; Wis. Tibetan Assn. President Thubden
Sangha speaks in support of the movement to quit CCP; Rallyists
on the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol facing State St.
Tommy Xu heads the Midwest 14-city tour; UW-Madison Ph.D.
student Grace Wu emcees; Zhihui Wen, of the Wisconsin Service
Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, explains how to
resign from the CCP; Peter Zheng narrates how he, a Falun Gong
practitioner, was jailed in China for five years and suffered torture
and forced labor; UW-Madison graduate Jim Gebhart talks about
organ-harvesting in China, particularly targeted against Falun
Gong practitioners; Sharon Remer, who organized the Madison part
of the Human Rights Torch Relay last year — a global movement
against China hosting the Olympic Games — explains what Falun
Gong is all about; Wis. Tibetan Assn. President Thubden
Sangha speaks in support of the movement to quit CCP; Rallyists
on the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol facing State St.
people and persecute innocent people,” he said. “It is based on CCP’s own record, certified materials and extensive personal testimonies.
For example, it records 80 million dead in China and CCP continues to persecute people. The CCP regime supports many countries that are
against the United States and steal America’s commercial and defense secrets.”
As to whether or not his group is pursuing democracy, Xu said that they are not interested in politics. “We just think that the CCP has
nothing to do with our culture,” he stressed. “ Their ideology came from Germany. It’s not part of our Chinese culture. We just want to
revive our own Chinese culture.”
Xu admitted that while most of the members of this movement are Falun Gong practitioners, there are also supporters who are non-
Falun Gong members, such as Tibetan Buddhists and Christians. He described Falun Gong as “basically a mind and body practice rooted
in Chinese culture.”
“It is not a religion,” Xu said, “because we do not have a church like other religions with membership. In Falun Gong, we have free
teaching. It is similar to yoga and tai’ chi, but they only have movement. They don’t teach you the principles of the universe. It’s a spiritual
group, though. We are taught the principles of the universe: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.”
The Chinese Consulate in Chicago, according to Xu, has not been responsive to their demands simply because its officials are
controlled by the party. “We only have three requests to them,” he said, “and these are: 1) release all Falun Gong practitioners jailed in
China; 2) give us freedom to practice our exercise; and 3) give us freedom to publish our teacher’s book in China.”
Impossible at present, but Xu hopes increased awareness and information will create some changes in the future, despite the barriers
to communication and the lack of freedom of speech and expression in the Mainland. Xu said many Chinese try all means to break through
the Chinese government’s firewall to see their website. “Of course (the Chinese government) blocks it,” he said. “But people use some
secret channels to post the statements. Sometimes they use fax and (when they are able) send us emails, which we then post on our
website. Sometimes they use their cell phones text messaging. Many send out fax, posters, flyers, and CDs. Whenever possible, they post
our message in public places. They even write the statement on Chinese currency bills.”
Rally
“I applaud all residents of Madison who are in today’s event to raise awareness about various human rights violations that are still
currently happening under communist regimes throughout the world. Today’s event provides an opportunity for those who have suffered
persecution directly and indirectly from the Chinese Communist Party, such as Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, Vietnamese and Hmong,
who have suffered torture in concentration camps to share their experiences and to be the voice of those who are still experiencing
persecution but unable to speak out for themselves at this moment. I support efforts in striving for a just world for all so that everyone may
enjoy basic human rights and be able to live an open and dignified life.”—Madison Mayor David Cieslewicz
The above letter from Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was read by Grace Wu, a Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who also
emceed the program. She said that their movement has received similar support from many national and local officials.
This is an unprecedented event for Chinese citizens to step forward and publicly dissociate themselves from the Chinese Communist
Party and condemn the party for the disaster it has wrought upon China,” Wu declared. “This movement is gaining momentum, and as it
continues, the CCP will … inevitably break apart.”
Zhihui Wen, representing the Wisconsin Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, came forward to explain the
procedure on how to eesign from the CCP, and Peter Zheng narrated how he, a Falun Gong practitioner, was jailed in China for five years
and suffered torture and forced labor during his incarceration. Zheng arrived in the U.S. last December. Sharon Remer, explained what
Falun Gong is all about, and questioned the persecution of its members in China. Last year, Remer organized the Madison part of the Human
Rights Torch Relay, a global movement against China hosting the Olympic Games. Tim Gebhart, a graduate from UW-Madison, then took the
stage to talk about organ-harvesting in China, particularly targeted against Falun Gong practitioners.
Falun Gong explained
“Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is a peaceful mind-body practice which consists of exercises, meditation and living according to the
principles of truth, compassion and forbearance,” Remer explained. “Introduced in China in the early 1990s, the practice flourished as
people realized and experienced improvements in their health and daily lives. Although Falun Gong was initially sanctioned by the CCP, the
vast number of those practicing Falun Gong, an estimated 100 million, was perceived as a threat to the leadership, and in July 1999, Falun
Gong was banned in mainland China. Brutal persecution followed against those who continued to practice Falun Gong and continues to this
very day, almost a full decade later.”
Remer said she supports the movement for Chinese people to resign from CCP. “Growing up in Midwest America, it is hard to imagine
what it must be like to grow up in a country where a regime shapes and defines one’s world view from a very young age,” she said. “The
propaganda taught in school and reinforced in state-controlled media is all that they have known. The fact that 53-54 million people have
had the insight and courage to quit the CCP is awe-inspiring to me. I have much admiration for those who have chosen to break away from
all that they have been taught and told, often at great personal risk.”
The reasons why she thought many Chinese people have resigned from CCP were many. “One needs only to read the headlines
regarding the corruption and crisis befalling China today,” Remer continued. “Although China’s human rights abuses are well known, we
don’t see as many headlines in the United States regarding human rights abuses as we do for example, tainted food. Headlines you rarely
see in mainstream media would be, for example, ‘Fifteen-year old orphaned as mother died in custody for practicing Falun Gong,’ or
‘Fueled by Olympics, Falun Gong persecution escalated sharply in 2008.’” She also shared some figures about the number of Chinese
people who are illegally detained and sent to labor camps; documented cases of torture and abuse; deaths while in police custody;
confinement to mental hospitals and the torture there (an act condemned by the World Psychiatric Association); and people who were
subjected to ‘organ-harvesting’ operations. “For a deeper understanding, additional facts, and personal stories, see the Falun Dafa info
center website on the Internet, falundafainformationcenter.org,” Remer urged her audience.
Wis. Tibetan Association (WTA)
WTA President Thubden Sangha was wearing a traditional Tibetan clothing, a Wisconsin Badger cap, and Tibetan flag tucked over his
chest. With confidence, Sangha addressed his audience highlighting why “Communism is not the answer.”
“Communism has always been an ideal that nobody had been able to practice in reality,” Sangha began. “It is an ideal that we look
forward to in an ideal world; and in an ideal situation, Communism will work. But people cannot accept that they can all be equal. And
knowing that has led to the problems of Communism that exist in China today and in Tibet. “
Sangha explained why WTA was in support of the movement to quit CCP. He said Tibetans believe that the CCP in Tibet has caused a
lot of misery, deaths, discontent, suffering, and fear, and that Communism is the reason many Tibetans are now in exile.
“We have a common goal: freedom, democracy, human rights, right to self-determination, right to choose our own government, right to have
our own religion and practice it, and live our own life the way we would love to live it,” Sangha said. “We want the Chinese government
and people to understand that we want resolution, we want negotiation, we want a dialogue. And in this dialogue we are asking five simple
things: transformation of the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace; the abandonment of China’s population-transfer policy; restoration and
protection of Tibet’s natural environment; commencement of honest negotiations for the future of Tibet; and Tibet’s status in relation to
China.”
Sangha also read a passage from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, part of which read:
“We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering regardless of race, religion, sex or political status. Human beings, indeed all sentient
beings, have the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and in freedom. ... But if we are prevented from using our creative potential, we
are deprived of one of the basic characteristics of human beings. It is very often the most gifted, dedicated and creative members of our
society who become victims of human rights abuses. ... Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human
desire for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as Communists have assumed, merely to provide people with food, shelter and clothing.
The deeper human nature needs to breathe the freshest air of liberty.”
For example, it records 80 million dead in China and CCP continues to persecute people. The CCP regime supports many countries that are
against the United States and steal America’s commercial and defense secrets.”
As to whether or not his group is pursuing democracy, Xu said that they are not interested in politics. “We just think that the CCP has
nothing to do with our culture,” he stressed. “ Their ideology came from Germany. It’s not part of our Chinese culture. We just want to
revive our own Chinese culture.”
Xu admitted that while most of the members of this movement are Falun Gong practitioners, there are also supporters who are non-
Falun Gong members, such as Tibetan Buddhists and Christians. He described Falun Gong as “basically a mind and body practice rooted
in Chinese culture.”
“It is not a religion,” Xu said, “because we do not have a church like other religions with membership. In Falun Gong, we have free
teaching. It is similar to yoga and tai’ chi, but they only have movement. They don’t teach you the principles of the universe. It’s a spiritual
group, though. We are taught the principles of the universe: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.”
The Chinese Consulate in Chicago, according to Xu, has not been responsive to their demands simply because its officials are
controlled by the party. “We only have three requests to them,” he said, “and these are: 1) release all Falun Gong practitioners jailed in
China; 2) give us freedom to practice our exercise; and 3) give us freedom to publish our teacher’s book in China.”
Impossible at present, but Xu hopes increased awareness and information will create some changes in the future, despite the barriers
to communication and the lack of freedom of speech and expression in the Mainland. Xu said many Chinese try all means to break through
the Chinese government’s firewall to see their website. “Of course (the Chinese government) blocks it,” he said. “But people use some
secret channels to post the statements. Sometimes they use fax and (when they are able) send us emails, which we then post on our
website. Sometimes they use their cell phones text messaging. Many send out fax, posters, flyers, and CDs. Whenever possible, they post
our message in public places. They even write the statement on Chinese currency bills.”
Rally
“I applaud all residents of Madison who are in today’s event to raise awareness about various human rights violations that are still
currently happening under communist regimes throughout the world. Today’s event provides an opportunity for those who have suffered
persecution directly and indirectly from the Chinese Communist Party, such as Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, Vietnamese and Hmong,
who have suffered torture in concentration camps to share their experiences and to be the voice of those who are still experiencing
persecution but unable to speak out for themselves at this moment. I support efforts in striving for a just world for all so that everyone may
enjoy basic human rights and be able to live an open and dignified life.”—Madison Mayor David Cieslewicz
The above letter from Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was read by Grace Wu, a Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who also
emceed the program. She said that their movement has received similar support from many national and local officials.
This is an unprecedented event for Chinese citizens to step forward and publicly dissociate themselves from the Chinese Communist
Party and condemn the party for the disaster it has wrought upon China,” Wu declared. “This movement is gaining momentum, and as it
continues, the CCP will … inevitably break apart.”
Zhihui Wen, representing the Wisconsin Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, came forward to explain the
procedure on how to eesign from the CCP, and Peter Zheng narrated how he, a Falun Gong practitioner, was jailed in China for five years
and suffered torture and forced labor during his incarceration. Zheng arrived in the U.S. last December. Sharon Remer, explained what
Falun Gong is all about, and questioned the persecution of its members in China. Last year, Remer organized the Madison part of the Human
Rights Torch Relay, a global movement against China hosting the Olympic Games. Tim Gebhart, a graduate from UW-Madison, then took the
stage to talk about organ-harvesting in China, particularly targeted against Falun Gong practitioners.
Falun Gong explained
“Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is a peaceful mind-body practice which consists of exercises, meditation and living according to the
principles of truth, compassion and forbearance,” Remer explained. “Introduced in China in the early 1990s, the practice flourished as
people realized and experienced improvements in their health and daily lives. Although Falun Gong was initially sanctioned by the CCP, the
vast number of those practicing Falun Gong, an estimated 100 million, was perceived as a threat to the leadership, and in July 1999, Falun
Gong was banned in mainland China. Brutal persecution followed against those who continued to practice Falun Gong and continues to this
very day, almost a full decade later.”
Remer said she supports the movement for Chinese people to resign from CCP. “Growing up in Midwest America, it is hard to imagine
what it must be like to grow up in a country where a regime shapes and defines one’s world view from a very young age,” she said. “The
propaganda taught in school and reinforced in state-controlled media is all that they have known. The fact that 53-54 million people have
had the insight and courage to quit the CCP is awe-inspiring to me. I have much admiration for those who have chosen to break away from
all that they have been taught and told, often at great personal risk.”
The reasons why she thought many Chinese people have resigned from CCP were many. “One needs only to read the headlines
regarding the corruption and crisis befalling China today,” Remer continued. “Although China’s human rights abuses are well known, we
don’t see as many headlines in the United States regarding human rights abuses as we do for example, tainted food. Headlines you rarely
see in mainstream media would be, for example, ‘Fifteen-year old orphaned as mother died in custody for practicing Falun Gong,’ or
‘Fueled by Olympics, Falun Gong persecution escalated sharply in 2008.’” She also shared some figures about the number of Chinese
people who are illegally detained and sent to labor camps; documented cases of torture and abuse; deaths while in police custody;
confinement to mental hospitals and the torture there (an act condemned by the World Psychiatric Association); and people who were
subjected to ‘organ-harvesting’ operations. “For a deeper understanding, additional facts, and personal stories, see the Falun Dafa info
center website on the Internet, falundafainformationcenter.org,” Remer urged her audience.
Wis. Tibetan Association (WTA)
WTA President Thubden Sangha was wearing a traditional Tibetan clothing, a Wisconsin Badger cap, and Tibetan flag tucked over his
chest. With confidence, Sangha addressed his audience highlighting why “Communism is not the answer.”
“Communism has always been an ideal that nobody had been able to practice in reality,” Sangha began. “It is an ideal that we look
forward to in an ideal world; and in an ideal situation, Communism will work. But people cannot accept that they can all be equal. And
knowing that has led to the problems of Communism that exist in China today and in Tibet. “
Sangha explained why WTA was in support of the movement to quit CCP. He said Tibetans believe that the CCP in Tibet has caused a
lot of misery, deaths, discontent, suffering, and fear, and that Communism is the reason many Tibetans are now in exile.
“We have a common goal: freedom, democracy, human rights, right to self-determination, right to choose our own government, right to have
our own religion and practice it, and live our own life the way we would love to live it,” Sangha said. “We want the Chinese government
and people to understand that we want resolution, we want negotiation, we want a dialogue. And in this dialogue we are asking five simple
things: transformation of the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace; the abandonment of China’s population-transfer policy; restoration and
protection of Tibet’s natural environment; commencement of honest negotiations for the future of Tibet; and Tibet’s status in relation to
China.”
Sangha also read a passage from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, part of which read:
“We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering regardless of race, religion, sex or political status. Human beings, indeed all sentient
beings, have the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and in freedom. ... But if we are prevented from using our creative potential, we
are deprived of one of the basic characteristics of human beings. It is very often the most gifted, dedicated and creative members of our
society who become victims of human rights abuses. ... Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human
desire for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as Communists have assumed, merely to provide people with food, shelter and clothing.
The deeper human nature needs to breathe the freshest air of liberty.”