Letter from Free Church for China to N.Y. Senator Charles SchumerAnn Noonan July 23, 2003
Senator Charles Schumer Dear Senator Schumer: This letter is to express my deep concern for Dr. Yang Jianli, a scholar and pro-democracy advocate from Brookline, Massachusetts who has been detained in China's prisons since April 2002. He had not been charged with any crime until last week when he was charged with espionage and entering his homeland of China illegally. Dr. Yang had participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square rally, and has been a well-respected leader of the Chinese-pro-democracy movement. Dr. Yang's imprisonment is seen by many as another attempt by China's government to silence the growing number of freedom fighters, religious figures, labor organizers and internet users who support basic human rights for all people inside China. This is another horrific example of China's government's ability to crackdown on dissenters who only seek those same freedoms we cherish here in the United States of America. Dr. Yang Jianli is a Chinese citizen with legal permanent residency in the United States. His wife is a naturalized US citizen and they have two children. I ask that you please come to the aid of Dr. Yang and his wife, Christina Fu by both calling publicly for Dr. Yang's release and by sponsoring the Senate Resolution 184. Your efforts at this time are crucial. Thank you.
Sincerely, -------------------------- |