(Minghui.org) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) held its annual Quad Day at the Quad, an open grassy area at the heart of the campus. Over 600 student organizations, including the Falun Dafa Association, set up tents and tables to introduce themselves to incoming freshmen. The event was held August 24, 2014.
Falun Dafa booth at UIUC's Quad Day freshman orientation event
The Falun Dafa Association of UIUC has participated in this freshman orientation since 2001. Practitioners take the opportunity to show the beauty of Falun Dafa to the students and faculty, and to expose the brutal persecution of Falun Dafa in China.
It was a bright, sunny day and the “Falun Dafa” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance” banners could be seen from afar.
Many students came to watch practitioners demonstrate the graceful exercise movements. Many came into the booth to learn more. When they heard about state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from living Falun Dafa practitioners, many signed a petition condemning the atrocities. Some also gave their email addresses to be updated on future exercise classes and other activities.
One student said, “Thank you for bringing Falun Dafa to America! We need Falun Dafa!” Another student said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance is exactly what we need.”
Some students asked where they could learn the exercises and attend group study.
One student with some knowledge about the evil nature of the CCP expressed his support to Falun Dafa and thanked the practitioners for their endeavors in peacefully protesting the persecution and promoting the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion- Tolerance.
Many Chinese students attend UIUC as well, and most of them have heard about Falun Dafa. Some have heard the truth about the practice, while many others have only heard the CCP propaganda that defames Falun Dafa.
Some Chinese freshmen took photos of Falun Dafa banner from a distance, likely afraid to approach any closer. A few of them came close and asked in a low voice, “Where are you from? Taiwan or Hong Kong?” The practitioners at the booth were familiar with the timid and frightened expressions of the Chinese students who were just getting a taste of living in the free society of the West. They smiled and told the students that they were from mainland China too, and that countless practitioners in China have persisted in their beliefs despite the persecution.
A Chinese student said he was shocked and couldn't believe the Communist Party is harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. He took a copy of each of the printed materials on display and told a practitioner seriously, “I will join your association later.”
Another Chinese freshman came to the tent with happy tears in her eyes and said, “I reconnected to Falun Dafa finally!”
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