On February 6, the Colorado Times Recorder republished a story by Steve Rabey originally published in Baptist News Global, “Shen Yun Promotes Dance Performances in Colorado After Being Sued for Child Labor Violations,” discussing Shen Yun Performing Arts and Falun Gong, the controversial religious group affiliated with it. In the United States, Falun Gong is also known for its affiliated media outlet, The Epoch Times.
Below are two responses to Rabey’s article sent to us by supporters of Falun Gong.
I found the reporting in this story very bigoted and one-sided, and frankly very poor journalism. Young people performing in the arts, theatre and dance doing something they absolutely love is something very few people could get the chance to do. I guess according to your reporter the Olympics should be banned as well as school sports. There is real child trafficking going on that never gets any attention. The Communist party has been persecuting, killing Falun Gong and extracting their organs while they are alive. The CCP is now using lawfare against people who merely wish to bring goodness to the world. The article was terribly biased against Falun Gong, as well as anything exceptional in the world and I found it biased against Christians as well. I happen to love the arts and anyone who brings light and love to the world.
Shanelle Deater
Aurora, CO
To Whom It May Concern:
The article “Shen Yun Promotes Dance Performances In Colorado After Being Sued for Child Labor Violations” by Steve Rabey is a hit piece upon a faith practiced by millions of people based upon information spread by the Chinese Communist Party.
It appears that Steve Rabey is an evangelical minded Christian who personally finds Falun Gong’s relationship with Christian media outlets offensive, so he dug up the worst information he could, of which there is plenty because the Chinese governement has been throwing everything it can at Falun Gong during 25 years of persecution, and presented that side of the story exclusively.
It is fair to point out that Falun Gong practitioners are connected to Shen Yun and media outlets, and that it is not Christian, but slandering the practice as a cult and insinuating that people are being held against their will and forced to dance is outrageous!
Falun Gong has had to participate in the media to such an extent because of journalists like Steve who swallow propaganda because they feel like it aligns with their own personal interests. He should stop and think though, why do so many Christian organizations work with Falun Gong connected media companies? Because they are honest and not prejudice against other people of faith. They strive to tell the truth and create content that does not use swear words or promote violence or lewd behavior. That is actually where Christian/FG interests align.
Falun Gong does not collect money and never has. Most people will never meet the Teacher, Li Hongzhi. All the materials are available for free online. Meditation sites are done in public parks and forbidden to ever collect money. The Teacher is revered as someone holy, as we would say in the West, but he is still a man. That’s part of what makes him great.
The Chinese Communist Party has recently begun a “Transnational Repression” effort which is using Western media and lawfare to persecute Falun Gong overseas. Some large and reputable media organizations have written hit pieces–please don’t join them. The truth is, Falun Gong practioners are tortured and killed every day, and articles like the one you published helps the communists to do it.
Please pull this article and do a more thorough fact check. Thank you.
Court Pearman
Colorado Springs
