Council tables resolution on Falun Gong and Shen Yun after debate; multiple public speakers describe persecution

New Castle County Council on July 22, 2025 introduced Resolution R25-121, "calling to end Chinese Communist Party's transitional repression of Falun Gong and Shen Yun," and then tabled the measure after extended debate and public comment. The council did not adopt the resolution at the July 22 meeting.

Why it mattered: Several council members said they were uncomfortable voting on a resolution that addressed alleged international abuses without more information about the organizations and claims cited in the text. Councilman Kaneko said he would not vote on matters he did not feel fully informed about and urged additional review; Councilman Hammons said he would likely not vote after hearing new information. After discussion, the council moved to table R25-121.

Public comment and arguments presented: Multiple members of the public — including people who identified themselves as Falun Gong practitioners and Shen Yun supporters — addressed the council during the public-comment period. Speakers described long-standing persecution in China and alleged transnational pressure, including threats to theaters staging Shen Yun performances, forced organ harvesting allegations, and personal accounts of imprisonment and family separation. Sample public remarks recorded in the meeting:

- Cindy Liu, who said she has practiced Falun Gong for about two decades, told the council that "the persecution of Falun Gong started in 1999 [and] has gone 26 years" and said supporters face what she called a "misinformation campaign launched by the Chinese Communist Party."

- William Huang, who said he was jailed for five years in China for his beliefs, described forced labor and repeated the view that "the persecution is still going on" and asserted that transnational repression "is a threat to our national security."

- Lily Song, identified as an early volunteer with Epoch Times, described work supporting Shen Yun and said the group aims to "revive the traditional Chinese culture," and asked the council to stand with past county resolutions supporting Falun Gong.

- Frank Kuei, who said he organizes local Shen Yun productions, said his team coordinated with local police and the FBI to ensure shows could proceed amid threats; he urged support for the resolution.

Council debate: Councilman Kaneko expressed discomfort with adopting international-policy language without further review and criticized references in the resolution to media coverage, including a report by The New York Times. He said he wanted the council to "look a little deeper into this organization" before voting. Council members raised procedural and jurisdictional questions about whether the county should adopt a resolution addressing alleged actions by a foreign government. Several council members said they have supported similar resolutions in the past; others said the issue is outside the council's usual remit.

Outcome: Council members moved to table R25-121; the motion passed by voice vote. Several speakers who had come to comment remained present; the council closed public comment and moved to other business.

What the transcript records (and does not): The council transcript records statements by public commenters and by council members expressing concern about the resolution's scope and some factual claims. The meeting text records specific allegations repeated by speakers (for example, claims about forced organ harvesting and bomb threats to theaters). Those factual claims come from speakers and were not verified during the meeting; county action was limited to tabling R25-121 for further review.

Next steps: The resolution may be reconsidered at a future meeting if sponsors choose to reintroduce it with additional documentation or revision. Meanwhile, community members who testified asked the council to reaffirm earlier county resolutions and to support local performances and organizations affected by alleged transnational pressure.