The Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, also known as the Tuidang Center, issued a public statement on March 2 addressing the incident.
The volunteer, identified as Lydia Dong, said she was distributing materials about Falun Gong and assisting individuals seeking to renounce membership in the Chinese Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, and the Young Pioneers when she was struck from behind.
Dong said she felt a heavy blow to her head, stumbled, and fell. Her glasses were knocked off. Bystanders called police, and the assailant fled. Shopkeepers described the suspect as a tall young Chinese man.
Police responded and reviewed surveillance footage. Dong said officers described the attacker as appearing “crazy” while watching the video. She reported head pain and numbness in her arms and legs and was transported by ambulance to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital.
In its March 2 statement, the Tuidang Center said the assault showed features of a hate crime and urged law enforcement to pursue the case under applicable law. The Tuidang Center said such violence affects public safety and constitutional freedoms, including religious belief and free speech in public spaces.
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The Tuidang Center also referenced prior incidents. It said the center received multiple bomb threats last year. Based on the nature of those threats and their targets, the Tuidang Center believes they originated from the Chinese Communist Party or individuals acting on its behalf. The statement urged authorities not to dismiss threats or acts of intimidation.
According to the Tuidang Center, six Falun Gong information sites and Tuidang service points operate along Main Street in Flushing. The Tuidang Center said these locations have been present in the neighborhood for more than 20 years, providing information and assisting individuals who wish to submit Tuidang declarations.
The Tuidang Center said the repeated threats and assaults reflect opposition to its message. It said some forces fear that more people may distinguish between the Chinese Communist Party and China, recognize what it described as cross-border repression, and choose not to associate themselves with Party organizations.
Data released by the Tuidang Center show that as of Feb. 27, 2026, a cumulative 458,530,442 people had submitted declarations renouncing membership in the Chinese Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, or the Young Pioneers. The center reported 5,161,549 signatures on an “End CCP” petition. The Tuidang Center said 15 million Tuidang declarations were recorded in 2025 and 1.2 million in January 2026.
The Tuidang Center said each declaration represents an individual decision to withdraw from Party-affiliated groups. It said the movement traces back 21 years to the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, which it credits with encouraging people to quit Party organizations. The Tuidang Center added that those who have joined Communist Party bodies should renounce their membership to avoid potential future accountability.
The Tuidang Center described itself as a U.S.-registered non-governmental organization operating under U.S. law, with service sites in more than 20 countries. It said most of its volunteers are Falun Gong practitioners who assist individuals seeking to renounce membership in Communist Party–affiliated organizations. The Tuidang Center added that some volunteers were previously detained in mainland China and said it believes related repression has extended beyond China’s borders.
The Tuidang Center said it will continue operating under U.S. law by peaceful means and urged law enforcement to investigate the incident.
