【新唐人】SEID: New York’s state capitol was home to a Falun Gong art exhibit earlier this week…and several assemblymen were at the opening ceremony on Monday. Here’s NTDTV correspondent Jeanne Mitchell with more.
STORY: Foot traffic at New York’s state capitol came to a standstill during the art show. The works depict Falun Gong practitioners resisting persecution in China, as well as their worldwide appeals to end the current persecution. One official at the show was Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto.
[Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto]
“Cervantes in Don Quixote wrote about man’s inhumanity to man and today nowhere is this being shown more evident than in China."
Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benjamin has long been an ally of Falun Gong practitioners. He showed his support by attending the exhibition. He’s also introduced a resolution condemning the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. He wants New York State Officials to know about human rights abuses in China.
[Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benjamin]
“For the last year or so I have been trying to educate my colleagues at the State Legislature about the horrors that are occurring in China."
“As Americans we should be looking to export our values, our beliefs, our belief in freedom of religion, in the freedom of association and our belief in the freedom of democracy."
Assemblyman John J. McEneny agrees.
[Albany Assemblyman John J. McEneny]
“People who would travel to China; do not be seduced by the trappings of the material culture, look instead at the things that matter within democracy."
The Assemblymen were moved by the paintings. The works tell the true stories of the artists themselves, as well as their families and fellow practitioners of Falun Gong.
[Albany Assemblyman John J. McEneny]
“It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and we have more than a dozen pictures down here telling a very important message."
Assemblyman Benedetto spoke of his experience.
[Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto]
“Time and time again there are exhibits you just casually walk by and pay very little attention to. Today’s exhibit is very difficult to walk by. The pictures out here are quite graphic and they tell one heck of a story don’t they? It touches the humanity of any individual walking by."
The exhibit will run through the end of the week. Jeanne Mitchell, NTDTV, New York.
