Flushing Violence Leads to Calls to Recall of Council Member

FLUSHING, New York City—New York council member John C. Liu met with Falun Gong practitioners on July 2, nearly two months after suspected Chinese Communist Party (CCP) agents began attacking Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing. For the first time, Liu admitted that he did not have a complete picture of the incident.

Since June 2, Falun Gong practitioners formally requested to meet with Liu eight times, but their requests were ignored. After protesting outside his office on June 30, Liu finally agreed to meet.

Falun Gong attendees at the meeting argued that Liu was supporting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). One Flushing resident, Mr. Bian, complained that Liu, as an elected council member in United States, acted against the benefit of his own country.

In contrast to the cold reception received by Falun Gong practitioners, Liu met with suspected CCP agents several times, as reported in pro-communist media. Liu welcomed those who were identified and had their pictures printed The Epoch Times as alleged attackers, to file their "complaints" with him.

Since the beginning of the incidents on May 17, at least 12 suspected communist agents have been arrested by police.

In the meeting with Liu, Falun Gong practitioners said they played an eight-minute video showing violent scenes from Flushing, such as a mob shouting anti-Falun Gong slogans, screaming abuse or death threats. Falun Gong spokesperson, Zhang Erping, then asked Liu whether he would publicly condemn "these thugs and CCP accomplices who brutally attacked Falun Gong practitioners."

Liu remained unwilling to directly address the contents of the video, say witnesses.

Judy Chen, who was attacked by suspected communist agents, and whose sons are in Iraq. (Dai Bing/Epoch Times)

During the meeting, Falun Gong practitioners complained of being besieged, verbally abused, and harassed in their daily lives, in some cases by mobs of hundreds.

New York resident Wu Hongliu expressed her disappointment with the meeting, "In the course of the meeting, Liu was indifferent and reluctant to listen to what we had to say. He had no desire to help us or condemn the crime. I think he even took the side of the criminals, without regret."

Flushing resident and Falun Gong practitioner Judy Chen was beaten and threatened by suspected CCP agents in May, but Liu refused to meet with her. "My two sons were fighting for the country on the battlefront, yet you did not protect me, but protected the CCP accomplices," she said.

A Flushing resident, Bian Hexiang, who migrated from mainland China to the United States nine years ago, also attended the meeting. He told an Epoch Times reporter after the meeting that, if Liu persisted on his current course, he would initiate a complaint and request his recall.

"If Liu didn't know what happened in the past, it would be excusable. But he knows the facts now. If he continues to be arrogant by feigning ignorance, I would be willing to initiate a request for the government to investigate his relationship with the CCP," said Bian.

Liu received an award from Chinese state-run media in 2006, entitled "The World is Beautified Because of You."

Chinese rights activist Mr. Fang Nengda of the Chinese Workers Autonomous Federation was also present at the meeting. He expressed his disappointment with Liu's failure to confront and condemn the violence aimed at Falun Gong in Flushing.