(Clearwisdom.net) Ever since the first World Falun Dafa Day in 2000, Falun Gong practitioners in New England have held annual celebrations in Boston Commons. This year is the fifth anniversary of World Falun Dafa Day. The practitioners recounted the past five Falun Dafa Days in Boston.
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Year 2000: May 13, 2000 marked the first World Falun Dafa Day. It was less than a year since the persecution of Falun Dafa started on July 20, 1999. In the darkest days for Falun Gong practitioners, those in Boston celebrated the first World Falun Dafa Day in Boston Commons.
Year 2001: It had been nine years since the public introduction of Falun Dafa and over a year since the persecution started. More and more Falun Gong practitioners had stepped forward to clarify the truth. On May 11, a dinner concert was held at MIT in celebration of World Falun Dafa Day. More activities were held in Boston Commons and Chinatown on May 12 and May 13.
Year 2002: The tenth anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa coincided with Master Li Hongzhi's lecture at the Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference in Boston on April 27. Falun Gong practitioners celebrated World Falun Dafa Day by doing group exercises, distributing truth-clarification flyers and displaying photo boards in Boston Commons and Chinatown on May 11 and May 12.
Year 2003: It was the eleventh anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa. Falun Gong practitioners again celebrated World Falun Dafa Day in Boston Commons and Chinatown on May 10. Having become more mature in truth clarification, they held more types of activities to clarify the truth and expose the persecution. In addition to the things that they did in the past, the practitioners held traditional dance, music, and art performances. They also collected signatures to rescue American citizen Dr. Charles Li who was detained in China by the authorities.
Year 2004: A large-scale celebration of World Falun Dafa Day was held in Boston Commons on May 15. The activities and performance were composed of five segments: Public Introduction of Falun Dafa, Global Recognition, Evil Persecution, Truth Clarification and Celebration of the Universe. This activity recounted the history of Falun Dafa and predicted a bright future.
Change in the Overall Situation
Many Falun Gong practitioners share the same feeling: "The situation as a whole has changed a lot." "It is getting easier." As a coordinator of activities, Ms. Wang Yiqun said, "When the persecution started, many people were influenced by Jiang and his followers' hate propaganda. We could see the hostility and misunderstanding in their eyes and could feel the enormous pressure, but things have been getting better and better. When we applied for recognition from the state government this year, the officials and their assistants expressed their sympathy and seemed to be touched by the goodness of Dafa."
Support from Government and the Public
The state of Massachusetts and cities in the New England area issued nineteen awards and recognitions to Mr. Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa this year. They encouraged the local residents to learn Falun Dafa.
The public was shocked and concerned upon hearing about the persecution.
People look with sympathy at the display boards depicting torture
Falun Gong Practitioners Have Become More Mature
Another coordinator of celebration activities, Riordan, said, "Falun Gong practitioners have become more and more mature after a few years of hardship. We have better coordination and cooperation. We are stronger when our efforts are put together."
Ms. Wang said, "Falun Gong practitioners have put a lot of thought into these activities. Every paper lotus flower, every costume, every dance movement and every truth-clarification flyer is the product of tireless efforts. Falun Gong practitioners have instilled their great benevolence and compassion into their work. This is why people have been touched and have stepped forward in support of Falun Gong. Because Falun Gong practitioners have never asked for anything for themselves, they have never been hesitant to give their best efforts. All these are priceless and can't be bought by money, like what Jiang's group is doing to carry out the persecution. The persecution is doomed to failure."
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