(Clearwisdom.net) On January 5, 2008, the Epoch Times newspaper and the Brisbane Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP held a rally and a parade to support the 30 million courageous Chinese people who have quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. Sound of Hope Radio broadcast the activity live.
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At 10:00 a.m., the rally was held at the Brisbane Square downtown. Banners supporting the withdrawals, displays that exposed the CCP's suppression of Falun Gong, the Sydney Divine Land Marching Band with their inspiring music, and the rhythmic sounds from the waist drum team caught the attention of many passerby.
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The first speaker at the rally was John Lee, President of the Queensland Free China Association. Mr. Lee talked about how more people have seen the CCP's evil nature and withdrawn from it. He pointed out that besides persecuting its countrymen, the CCP had extended its bad influence overseas - including positioning large numbers of secret agents abroad and exporting poisonous toys and food. Lee asked the Chinese people to awaken: "I hope in the coming year that you can participate in spreading the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and help others to quit the CCP. This is to help disintegrate the CCP, clear away the evil CCP culture, rebuild traditional Chinese values, and promote the divinely inspired Chinese culture."
Kamen, a college student from Griffith University, said, "I often volunteer my time to work at the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP. Many have asked me why I care about what happens in China while I am in Australia. What happens in China influences everyone. In fact, China is a major country that trades with Australia." Kamen gave many examples of the crimes the CCP has committed and warned the Australian people that the nature of the CCP won't change. Only quitting the CCP will help those who suffer in China.
John Andress, spokesperson for the Queensland Falun Dafa Association, said that over 80 million Chinese died under the CCP's rule over the past several decades. "The persecution of Falun Gong is the most brutal persecution of all the groups the CCP views as threats. The persecution started in 1999, and even today, no one knows the exact number of practitioners who have died in the persecution," said Andress.
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Michael Anderson, a representative for the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), talked about the Global Human Rights Torch Relay and called for people to pay attention to the CCP's crime of removing organs from living Falun Gong practitioners for profit.
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Wong Cheuk-Yin, former President of Ho Lap College in Hong Kong, shared his personal experience of how the CCP slaughters innocent people. Wong warned the audience to stay away from the CCP and choose a bright future.
Mr. Wang, a former soldier and teacher in China, also spoke at the rally. He discussed how the CCP is a dictatorship of suppression and called for people in China to disintegrate the CCP in a peaceful way - by quitting the CCP.
One World, an Australian singing group, sang to show their support for the Chinese people who have quit the CCP.
Many spectators express their opinions. Jane from the Sunshine Coast said, "I attended the rally to support this effort. I know more and more people in China dare to stand up against the CCP and its crimes. Therefore, I wanted to attend the rally in Australia to support the Chinese people who are standing up for themselves, who are making a change, and leaving the CCP."
One woman said she felt sad about the persecution in China and the fact that people still need to fight for freedom.
A local resident said, "I absolutely think they (Falun Gong practitioners in China) should enjoy the right to practice their belief. This peaceful protest is great and it makes people care about what happens in China."
Another Brisbane resident said, "I hope athletes will not go to China to support Beijing 2008 unless it stops the persecution."
At 11:00 a.m., the Divine Land Marching Band, waist drum team, and many people carrying banners formed a parade and walked through the busy downtown streets of Brisbane and through Chinatown.
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