ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 20, 2016) — The Minnesota Senate passed a resolution Friday, expressing concern over China’s alleged state-sanctioned, forced organ harvesting from non-consenting Falun Gong faith members. Falun Gong is a religious practice that is connected to the Buddhist tradition.
According to SF 2090 author State Sen. Alice Johnson (DFL-37) of Blaine, the Chinese Communist Party has been persecuting members of the Falun Gong faith for several years, and tens of thousands of the faith members have been killed to supply a lucrative trade in human organs and cadavers.
The resolution was co-sponsored by State Sen. Dan Hall (R-56) of Burnsville. Hall said that delegations from China have said this persecution does not occur but that the evidence shows that it is occurring.
“This resolution goes to the core of our society,” Hall said.
The resolution passed 52-0 with 15 senators’ either not present or obtaining, including Jim Abeler (R-35), Mary Kiffmeyer (R-30), Ron Latz (DFL-46), James Metzen (DFL-52), Sean Nienow (R-32), Julianne Ortman (R-47), David Osmek (R-33), John Pederson (R-14), Carrie Ruud (R-10), Matt Schmit (DFL-21), David Senjem (R-25), Rod Skoe (DFL-2), LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-1), David Thompson (R-58) and Torrey Westrom (R-12).
