WASHINGTON—Lawmakers on a panel on the U.S. Capitol denounced the Chinese language Communist Social gathering’s far-reaching marketing campaign of repression in the USA whereas commending the focused group, Falun Gong, for its braveness.
“It’s transnational terrorism as to what they search to do, to undermine and to harm people who find themselves simply crammed with kindness in direction of others,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) instructed a crowd of round 200 at a discussion board on July 17 titled “Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression.”
“There’s no boundaries to what this dictatorship will do anyplace and all over the place, and we’ve acquired to face boldly towards it, and you might be doing that. So I actually thanks.”
The occasion passed off three days earlier than a key anniversary for Falun Gong, a meditative apply with ethical teachings primarily based on the rules of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. On July 20, 1999, the Chinese language regime marked the apply for elimination. Since then, tens of hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to arbitrary detention, pressured labor, and torture, whereas the regime makes use of propaganda to control public opinion towards the apply.
The persecution marketing campaign, together with the regime’s state-sanctioned pressured organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, has resulted in an untold variety of deaths.
In late 2022, Chinese language chief Xi Jinping instructed prime officers to ramp up their efforts to destroy Falun Gong globally, by escalating disinformation and instigating lawfare campaigns within the West.
Since August final 12 months, The New York Occasions has printed a dozen articles attacking Falun Gong.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) speaks at a discussion board titled “Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression,” on the U.S. Capitol on July 17, 2025. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Occasions
On the panel on July 17, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) described Falun Gong practitioners as “courageous souls.”
“I believe it’s acceptable, as a result of I do know that as individuals dwelling in America of Chinese language origin, you might be focused by the Communist Social gathering of China proper right here in America, which is astounding to individuals like us,” he stated.
“The those that come from the Communist Social gathering of China to America to impose their will on us should know that in the event that they try this, in the event that they have interaction in any of that, they are going to spend the remainder of their lives in jail. That’s the treatment to these sorts of issues.
“This can be a prison group that terrorizes individuals, that tortures individuals, and that murders individuals for the issues that they consider. That is unacceptable in America.”
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) speaks at a discussion board titled “Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression,” on the U.S. Capitol on July 17, 2025. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Occasions
Be it Republicans or Democrats, he stated, “everybody agrees that these horrors can not exist and can’t proceed.”
“The large image is, you might be all commodities. You’re not simply slaves. Keep in mind, it is a chop store. You’re truly price extra in items than you might be as an individual,” Destro stated.
Robert Destro, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, speaks at a discussion board titled “Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression,” on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on July 17, 2025. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Occasions
Sam Brownback, former ambassador-at-large for worldwide non secular freedom, stated the transnational prison component of the persecution towards Falun Gong, which is reaching into the USA, has revealed “the nice concern the Chinese language Communist Social gathering has of Falun Gong.”
“The Chinese language Communist Social gathering simply loathes this establishment, this group. They hate them, and so they deal with them worse than anyone,” Brownback stated.
“That’s actually saying one thing, as a result of the Chinese language Communist Social gathering treats all religions poorly. The best risk to the Chinese language Communist Social gathering is faith, and the faith that’s the most pure to the Chinese language individuals is the Falun Gong.”
Smith and Perry thanked Falun Gong practitioners for standing up towards the regime regardless of the dangers it poses and pledged to face with them.
“We’ll hold combating till Falun Gong and other people from China are free, and when that day comes, you’ll be remembered because the heroes that made it occur,” Smith stated.