Peaceful Resistance to the Persecution on the Eve of Its 15th Anniversary (Photos)

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Peaceful Resistance to the Persecution on the Eve of Its 15th Anniversary (Photos)

July 17, 2014

(Minghui.org) July 20, 2014, marks the 15^th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong. Beginning last week, Falun Gong practitioners around the world have been holding all kinds of activities to raise awareness about the persecution and to call for help to end it.

This article covers three such events that took place in France, Australia, and America.

Paris, France

Every Sunday afternoon over the past 10 years, tourists on the Trocadéro Esplanade (Square of Freedom and Human Rights) in Paris have seen Falun Gong practitioners demonstrating the exercises and handing out materials in front of the Eiffel Tower.

On July 13, practitioners again set up display boards and banners. Many tourists stopped by and learned about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. They signed the petition, expressing their support for the peaceful resistance.

Group exercises in front of the Eiffel Tower

Studying the information

Signing the petition to support Falun Gong

A group of Chinese tourists were excited to see Falun Gong, and took photos and videos. Some of them asked practitioners for materials. A Chinese gentleman said, “In my hometown, Falun Gong practitioners are all nice people.” He agreed to quit the CCP.

Many were interested in learning the exercises and asked for detailed contact information for the local exercise sites.

Perth, Australia

Every day last week, the people of Perth, the capital of West Australia, saw a large banner in front of a downtown office building. The banner read, “Stop live organ harvesting from innocent Falun Gong practitioners in China.”

Banner in downtown Perth

On the eve of the 15^th anniversary of the persecution, local practitioners arrived downtown at 6 a.m. every morning to hang up the banner.

Russel, a local, saw the banner and took some brochures on Thursday. The next day, he came again and talked to the practitioners for about 30 minutes.

“I read your materials last night, and searched for more information on the Internet. It's really shocking. The kinds of torture they have used on Falun Gong practitioners are really brutal, and the spread of Falun Gong throughout China and the world is amazing,” he said.

As a Christian, Russel knew that the communist party promoted atheism and said it was foolish of them to try to control people's spirit. “The party tries to make people focus on the material world. But it will lose control, when people realize the existence of heaven and have a spiritual belief.

“I told my family what I've learned about Falun Gong and the persecution. We had a discussion, and we want to know what we can do for you. That is why I am here again today.”

Practitioners told him that he could sign on the petition and tell more people about the persecution. Russel took materials for his co-workers before he left.

Local practitioners will hang up the banner and have a presence every day until July 20.

Minnesota, U.S.A.

In the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) in Minnesota, Falun Gong practitioners participated in a local Asian event—the Dragon Festival--on July 13 and 14 to tell people about Falun Gong. The cultural event attracted many ethnic groups and tourists.

Falun Gong practitioners' booth at the Dragon Festival

Signing the petition to condemn the 15-year-long persecution.

It was the ninth year that local practitioners had a booth at this event. Several practitioners who were tortured in Chinese labor camps because of their Falun Gong belief shared their experiences with the tourists. The personal stories touched many hearts.

A group of ladies were shocked by the brutality of the persecution. They signed the petition and asked their family and friends to sign, too. They even helped busy practitioners explain what is going on in China to other tourists, and why it was important to sign the petition.

Due to practitioners' efforts all over the world, more and more Chinese people, who were deceived by the communist party's propaganda against Falun Gong, have learned what Falun Gong truly is and become supportive. At the event, a few Chinese tourists not only publicly quit the communist party, but also signed the petition.