Battle Creek Enquirer,MI

City joins protest against Chinese organ harvesting
Elizabeth Huff
September 12, 2006

Falun Gong practitioners from Michigan and Windsor are bringing attention to
the practice of organ harvesting in the People’s Republic of China.

During a six-city tour of Michigan, the group stopped Tuesday at Monument
Park in downtown Battle Creek.

A statue of Sojourner Truth, who was a civil rights activist and resident of
Battle Creek, stood over the group of about 10 people who were holding
banners proclaiming Falun Gong’s core principals of truth, compassion and
tolerance.

Falun Gong is a meditation practice similar to Tai Chi or yoga and has a
spiritual component.

Based on ancient principals, Falun Gong began as a modern practice in China
in 1992. The Chinese Communist Party banned its practice in 1999 at a time
when an estimated 100 million people were following it in China. It is now
worldwide.

Mark Cnudde, 52, has been practicing for about four or five years. He was
shocked when he heard there were hospitals in China where organ harvesting
has become a systematic practice.

“Unless those in the free world raise their voices against the horror,
countless men, women and children will be slaughtered by a medical
establishment gone mad in China,” he said.

“The more people know, hopefully the quicker this will be over,” he said.

Falun Gong practitioners report that almost 3,000 followers have died in
Chinese prison camps and around 6,000 people have been killed for their
organs.

On Oct. 4, 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution
calling for the government of China to stop harassment and detention of
Falun Gong practitioners.

Song Zhang, 68, is from Hu Bei Province in China. He spoke about the illegal
telephone tapping, interrogation and 10 months he spent in a detention
center for practicing Falun Gong.

He now lives in Madison Heights and speaks out against the Chinese Communist
Party’s oppression and organ harvesting.

“I think every citizen, no matter where you are, should stand up to this,”
said Dongdong Zhang, who has practiced Falun Gong for 12 years.

A letter dated Sept. 6 from state Sen. Mike Goschka, R-Brant, was read in
support of Falun Gong’s opposition to organ harvesting.

Also, Mayor John Godfrey declared Sept. 17-24 “Falun Dafa Week.”

“Sojourner Truth was also an advocate for human rights,” said city
Commissioner

Deborah Owens. She presented the proclamation to the group on Godfrey’s
behalf.

Falun Gong workshops are to be scheduled in Battle Creek in the future.
Contact Dongdong Zhang at 248-563-2693 or 248-451-9651 for more information.

Elizabeth Huff is a health and features reporter. She can be reached at
966-0684 or [email protected].