FLUSHING, New York City— Meditating quietly along the sidewalks of Main Street in Flushing, Falun Gong practitioners came to protest recent attacks against their beliefs. A pleasant change for the busy streets of New York’s self-made, second Chinatown, tranquil music filled the air, and many passersby slowed to observe the peaceful demonstration that was held in the late afternoon of August 9.

With over 70 people sitting in meditation, the gathering was held in protest of two tables that were recently set up along Main Street that disseminate hate propaganda against Falun Gong, a Chinese meditation practice based on Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance.

Chris Thomas, a Falun Gong practitioner and a native of Wellington, New Zealand said that he had come to Flushing to help people understand what Falun Gong is, amidst the propaganda against it. “I came down here to help the people of Flushing learn the truth about Falun Gong because a lot of people in this area are poisoned by the CCP to the point where they even assault people in this free country,” said Thomas.......

By Joshua Philipp and Genevieve Long, Epoch Times Staff, Aug 3, 2008-

FLUSHING, New York City—Those who had attacked Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing have resorted to different tactics to target the spiritual practice.

On August 2, a table to distribute hate materials and gather signatures against Falun Gong was set up on the corner of Main Street and Sanford Avenue. The group behind the table consists of many who had previously been arrested on the streets of Flushing for allegedly physically attacking Falun Gong practitioners. The group calls itself the Chinese Descent Civil Rights Research of New York, U.S.A. Corp. and the Chinese Descent Civil Rights Institute of New York U.S.A. (CCRI.USA).

Out of the at least 4 people seen working at the table on August 2, two of them were identified as having previously been arrested for attacking Falun Gong practitioners or having taken part in other anti-Falun Gong activities.

The men operating the table were John Yang, who had been arrested on May 23 with charges of harassment in the second degree and assault with intention to cause physical injury, and Huahong Li, who had been arrested on May 21 with charges of disorderly conduct, fighting, and violent behavior.......

Epoch Times Staff, Aug 3, 2008-

FLUSHING, New York City—Another pro-communist supporter was arrested by police in Flushing on August 1 for his involvement in the Chinese communist regime’s violence. To date, 14 have been arrested since mid-May, the beginning of the Flushing incident.

A man who had participated in the Flushing violence, upon being recognized, fled into a pharmacy in Flushing on August 1. After receiving a witness' report, Flushing’s 109th Precinct police arrived shortly thereafter and arrested the man.

According to Falun Gong practitioner Edmond Erh, the man was involved when Erh was beaten and his right ear injured on May 20. New York police arrested two accomplices that day, but unfortunately this man escaped at that time.

According to witnesses, he has violently beaten and threatened Falun Gong practitioners with death on several occasions. He apparently is also very actively involved and is one of the main participants in the communist regime’s orchestrated and premeditated violence in Flushing.