Falun Gong Protests Exclusion From Parade

[Judi Lynn]

Falun Gong Protests Exclusion From Parade

Falun Gong Protests Exclusion From Chinese New Year's Parade in San Francisco
By TERENCE CHEA Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO Feb 3, 2006 — The city's annual Chinese New Year Parade an extravaganza of lion dances, firecrackers and colorful floats has been thrown into turmoil over organizers' decision to exclude members of Falun Gong, the spiritual movement outlawed as a dangerous cult in China.

The San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which has directed the parade for nearly 50 years, claims Falun Gong followers violated parade rules against political activity two years ago when they handed out anti-China leaflets while marching.

"They don't add anything to the parade, and they violate every guideline," said Rose Pak, who represents the chamber. "We just don't want any groups that preach and do politics."

Falun Gong members accuse the chamber of discriminating against them to appease the government in China, where many chamber members have business interests.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1577267

[BayCityProgressive]

1. I need to be more informed on this issue

What is Falun gong and why do the Chinese oppress them?

[iverglas]

2. here's a compendium!

http://www.rickross.com/groups/falun.html

It's rather difficult to find any writing critical of the Falun Gong cult. Liberals do just love to demonize that Communist China.

Want my opinion? It's bullshit, just like any religion. But as an organization, it's dangerous along the lines of Scientology.

Religious freedom is dandy. Cults that brainwash individuals into doing things harmful to themselves are no better than drug dealers.

This review of a book about the thing is a fairly good introduction:

http://www.rickross.com/reference/fa_lun_gong/falun213.html

[megatherium]

4. I have no idea if they are genuinely dangerous

or if they're relatively harmless and would be little threat if ignored. But China has a terrifying history of civil war involving religious sects (in particular, the Taiping Rebellion in the mid 1800s, which cost 30 million lives), so it's understandable that the Chinese government has little tolerance for religious sects that appear to challenge their authority.

[KittyWampus]

3. These guys are permanent victims... it's their schtick

[GTBear]

5. Why not support Free Speech?

If a group wants to hand out leaflets at a parade, why can't they? Don't respond with that non-political crap....did you ever see a parade that was non-political....Even the Macy's Parade is political with a corporate theam.....