OUR PETITION
Our Concern
We are the Shen Yun community consisting of current and former staff, performers, and their families. We are horrified to see the gross distortions and false narratives about our work, our faith, and our way of life echoing through mainstream media, and bolstered by lawfare as well as malicious calls for government inquiries. We are concerned for the well-being and safety of our loved ones. We are concerned about a beloved American company that brings hope and joy to millions. We are concerned about Beijing’s ability to manipulate and control our society.
About Shen Yun
Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Each year, the company performs in over 200 cities across 5 continents reaching more than one million audience members. Shen Yun was founded by people who practice the Falun Gong faith, and it is a religious community. The road to Shen Yun’s success has been long and challenging. Eighteen years ago, Shen Yun’s founders fled horrific persecution in China, and came to this country with virtually nothing. Armed with only their work ethic, faith, and a grand vision to revitalize authentic Chinese culture and raise awareness about their plight, they created the fastest-growing performing arts company in American history and did so without any assistance from the government or any corporation. They are entirely self-reliant.
The Foreign Malign Campaign Against Shen Yun
The Chinese communist regime considers Shen Yun as a soft power existential threat. A Shen Yun performance showcases the beauty and spiritual depth of authentic Chinese culture before the rise of communism, while also portraying the resilience of the Chinese people in the face of China’s modern-day tyranny. This is precisely what the Chinese regime wants to hide from the world, and yet Shen Yun puts it on stage for millions to witness. Consequently, since Shen Yun’s founding in 2006, the Chinese regime has sought to sabotage the company, cancel its performances, and vilify its performers. Yet, this global campaign has largely failed.
This year, however, everything changed. Beginning with a barrage of bomb and death threats as well as unchecked vitriol spreading across social media, the Chinese regime has escalated its war on Shen Yun to unprecedented levels. According to several sources inside China, a joint venture between China’s Ministry of State Security and Ministry of Public Security is executing an illicit campaign to weaponize American mainstream media, prompt government inquiries, and take advantage of our judicial system—all with the goal of sabotaging Shen Yun and turning public opinion in the United States against the company
Why It Matters
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An American treasure in jeopardy: A toxic campaign, built largely upon individuals with ties to the Chinese government, is raging in our media, our court rooms, and even some government agencies; its agenda is to destroy a unique American enterprise that is loved by millions and serves as a significant U.S. soft power asset.
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Risk to freedom of belief on U.S. soil: This same campaign aims to destroy our way of life and turn public opinion against our faith. It is precisely a communist-style “struggle” campaign implemented through the twisted usurpation of our freedom and democracy.
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A blueprint for foreign malign influence: Since the Communist Party seized power in China, it has demonized the United States and sought ways to “topple the U.S. from within.” After decades of limited success, the current campaign waged against Shen Yun raises the stakes, offering Beijing a blueprint for how to destroy any company, organization, or group of people in the United States, at will.
What We Are Calling For
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The Department of Justice to investigate sources of this foreign malign influence campaign and bring to justice those behind it.
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Congress and the President to take action to protect American interests, companies, and people from CCP malign influence operations. These actions need to be robust and savvy enough to effectively protect Americans while preserving our freedoms and liberty.
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The American media to act responsibly, prioritizing transparency of sources with Beijing ties and true objectivity over the allure of attention-grabbing stories and the furthering of any ideological agenda.
Petition Results
Over 1,550 people signed the petition, including…
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624 current dancers, musicians, and production staff
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142 former dancers and musicians
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791 family members (mostly parents)
Excerpts from comments made by people who signed the petition…
“The revival of my heritage, the stability of my livelihood, and the freedom to believe in my spiritual faith: In America, these are the things that I’ve always counted on the United States Constitution to protect. And yet, today, these are precisely the things that are at stake, beginning with the CCP’s attempts to sabotage the company that I am with. It is terrible to think that something like this could even take place on American soil.”
“Shen Yun is a gift and a blessing in my life. I cannot fathom why anyone could be so heartless as to blatantly attack it! If the media is allowed to tarnish the reputation of a prestigious company, using unwarranted accusations and distorted lies, is this American soil I am standing on?”
“I would urge congress and President Trump to make America first by investigating foreign government influence and protect American companies and Americans’ freedoms. I was lucky to have escaped Communist China, but now the same government is trying to exert control into America.”
“As stated the details in this petition, I would like to urge The Department of Justice to investigate sources of this foreign malign influence campaign and bring to justice those behind it. Congress and the President to take action to protect American interests, companies, and people from CCP malign influence operations. These actions need to be robust and savvy enough to effectively protect Americans while preserving our freedoms and liberty.”
"Our family is deeply saddened and hurt by these unfounded smears. Beyond the profound pain caused by the repeated misrepresentation of our faith, the New York Times’ distorted portrayal of Shen Yun and Fei Tian schools through biased reporting adds further insult. It is deeply offensive to suggest that we, as loving parents, would knowingly send our cherished daughter to what they wrongfully depict as a “horrible child trafficking ring.” Such claims are not only baseless but also a grave affront to our integrity and judgment.”
“Having already endured the heartbreaking loss of a Falun Gong-practicing family member during the persecution in China, we are deeply alarmed to witness the CCP’s ability to recruit proxies and deploy sophisticated disinformation campaigns within the United States. This coordinated effort threatens the foundational principles of American democracy, including freedom of religion, by setting a perilous precedent for future foreign interference. Such actions not only undermine fundamental liberties but also pose a direct challenge to the integrity of open societies."