SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2003 SESSION
034049624Patrons-- Baskerville, Abbitt, Alexander, Almand, Armstrong, Barlow, Black, Bolvin, Callahan, Councill, Crittenden, Darner, Devolites, Dillard, Gear, Hargrove, Johnson, Keister, Landes, Marshall, R.G., Melvin, Miles, Moran, Petersen, Plum, Pollard, Rollison, Scott, Shuler, Stump, Watts, Welch and Woodrum; Senators: Byrne, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Martin, Reynolds, Ticer, Wagner and Whipple
WHEREAS, Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is a self-improvement practice rooted in ancient Chinese culture that promotes the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance; and
WHEREAS, Falun Gong practitioners use gentle exercises and meditation to achieve the goals of a pure heart, a balanced mind, and an energized body; and
WHEREAS, despite the peaceful, positive, and nonpolitical goals of Falun Gong, the government of the People's Republic of China has for several years brutally and systematically killed, tortured, and illegally detained those who practice Falun Gong; and
WHEREAS, the actions of the Chinese government have been universally condemned by, among others, the President of the United States, the United States Department of State, the United States Congress, and the political leaders of many U.S. states and dozens of local governments; and
WHEREAS, Falun Gong has been welcomed and celebrated by proclamations and resolutions from localities in New Zealand, Australia, France, Canada, and many other countries; and
WHEREAS, in Virginia, the cities of Winchester, Chesapeake, and Charlottesville and the Counties of Fairfax and Loudoun have proclaimed Falun Dafa Week; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the ongoing suppression of Falun Gong practitioners in the People's Republic of China, reputable media outlets have reported incidents of persecution and harassment of Falun Gong practitioners on United States soil; and
WHEREAS, by resolution, the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, on August 1, 2002, condemned the extremely brutal persecution of Falun Gong by the government of the People's Republic of China; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby urge the government of the People's Republic of China to end the senseless and illegal persecution of practitioners of the Falun Gong or Falun Dafa movement; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Yang Jiechi, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, so that he may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.