Theatergoers told The Epoch Times the threats didn’t deter them from attending the performance.
New York based Shen Yun Performing Arts, which has consistently faced pressure from Beijing, performed to a full house in Claremont, California, after the venue was evacuated due to a bomb threat that turned out to be false.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance company that tours globally, received a bomb threat hours before its last performance at Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium in Claremont, California.
Shen Yun’s mission is to present thousands of years of traditional Chinese civilization that existed prior to the Chinese Communist Party’s takeover.
The threat email marked one of around 100 targeting the company since last year, aiming to disrupt Shen Yun’s performances.
Both the White House and the State Department have condemned such actions against the group.
Claremont Colleges Campus Safety received the email just before 9 a.m. on March 30 and immediately evacuated the building. A similar evacuation took place at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. weeks prior. The safety officers reported the incident to the city police and called in canine units to search for explosives, Claremont Police Department told The Epoch Times. Ultimately, none were found.
Though the investigation delayed the performance by about 20 minutes, no theatergoers complained about the wait, staffers at the box office said.
In the packed theater, as the emcee thanked the audience for their patience, saying they’d remain steadfast amid the ongoing intimidation, the spectators broke into applause.
Linda Ross, a first-time viewer of the show, said it was an “honor” to see the performance.
“It’s a shame that something like this has to happen,” she told The Epoch Times about the bomb threats while waiting to enter the auditorium. She had heard about many similar threats prior to coming to the performance, she added.
“This would never stop me to want to see this show.”
John Garcia, who stood next to her, said the disruption didn’t bother him at all.
Shen Yun is “a beautiful show,” he told The Epoch Times.
“They’re sharing a message,” he said, and “it shouldn’t be suppressed.”
By Eva Fu
