(Clearwisdom.net) August 30, 2004, was the opening day of the US Republican National Convention (RNC), nearly 10,000 reporters from different media outlets around the world, and a variety of protest groups converged on New York City. Falun Gong practitioners took this opportunity to clarify the truth to the public in peaceful and creative ways. At noon on August 30, the practitioners held a press conference at a park known as Madison Square Garden park nearby the convention site. They took the opportunity to inform the public about the persecution of Falun Gong in China using a photo exhibit, video , handing our written materials and reading a statement.

Press conference site

Australian practitioner Dai Zhizhen and her four-year-old daughter Fa Du came to New York City to tell people about the tragic story of her husband who was tortured to death for refusing to give up practicing Falun Gong in China. Ms. Dai called for people's attention to the basic human rights of Falun Gong practitioners in China and help to end the inhuman persecution of innocent people.

Ms. Yeong-Ching Foo, fianc¨¦e of American citizen Charles Li who is still being illegally held by the Chinese government in China read a statement, requesting the immediate release of Charles Li and an end to the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong exercise demonstration

A group of people are attracted by the exercise demonstration and learn to practice on the spot

Practitioners read statements

People are attentively looking at the photo exhibit

Practitioners answer questions from the public and media