The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has rejected Falun Gong's request to participate in the March 3 Chinese New Year Parade after excluding them last year, claiming Falun Gong previously violated the parade's ban on political activity. The city contributes $77,000 of the parade's more than $800,000 budget along with police protection.
Superior Court Judge Patrick Mahoney was scheduled to hear arguments February 14 from Falun Gong that has sued the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for discrimination. He tentatively sided February 13 with the Human Rights Commission's decision that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was within its rights to keep Falun Gong out of the parade. (Source: San Francisco Chronicle, Feb 14, 2007).