Proclamation for Ride 2 Freedom Day
WHEREAS, Ride 2 Freedom began on June 1, 2015, International Children’s Day, with a group of 30 young people from five continents traveling 3,300 miles across the United States on bicycles; and
WHEREAS, Ride 2 Freedom began its 45-day cycling journey from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. to publicize and promote awareness of the plight of children in China orphaned due to lack of spiritual freedom in China; and
WHEREAS, the Ride 2 Freedom cyclists’ mission is to make a difference in the lives of orphaned children of parents persecuted to death by the Chinese Communist Party for their spiritual beliefs in Falun Dafa; and
WHEREAS, Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline founded by Li Hongzhi in 1992 that consists of spiritual and moral teachings, mediation, and exercise based upon the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance; and
WHEREAS, Falun Dafa has been persecuted in its country of origin since June 10, 1999, when President (at that time) Jiang Zemin of the Chinese Communist Party ordered the creation of the 6-10 office, an covert and unregulated branch of security specially designed to “eradicate” Falun Gong; and
WHEREAS, Falun Dafa practitioners have been arrested and tortured to death since that time, their children left without families or homes, often pursued by the state, and abused for their parent’s beliefs; and
WHEREAS, these young cyclists are making their way across the United States, meeting with supporters at every stop before reaching Washington, D.C. to meet with national leaders to expose the persecution; and
WHEREAS, the Ride 2 Freedom team arrives in the City of O’Fallon, Missouri on June 30, 2015;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Hennessy, Mayor and the Council members of the City of O’Fallon, Missouri do recognize the sincere and heartfelt efforts of the Ride 2 Freedom youth in raising awareness of the plight of millions of children in China, and do hereby proclaim June 30, 2015 to be
“Ride to Freedom Day”
in the City of O’Fallon, Missouri and urge all our local citizens to welcome the Ride to Freedom and its mission.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of O’Fallon, Missouri, to be affixed this 30th day of June, 2015.
Mayor, Bill Hennessy
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