Why Tiananmen Square?
For a people engaged in a personal, peaceful spiritual practice that has no interest in politics, why do practitioners of Falun Gong choose politically sensitive Tiananmen Square to make their appeals? The answer is perhaps simpler than many might guess they have no where else to go. There is a branch of the Chinese communist government referred to as the Appeal Office. Through this branch, citizens may legally file complaints or make an appeal regarding unjustices. Access to these offices is a right granted to all Chinese citizens by the Chinese constitution. Shortly after the ban on Falun Gong, however, Falun Gong practitioners were no longer permitted to appeal at these offices. Those who attempted to do so were immediately taken away by the police. It has been reported that the appeal office in Beijing near Tiananmen Square even removed its sign from the front door. Furthermore, other legal channels for making an appeal were promtly closed to practitioners shortly after the ban. Fo
