(Minghui.org) A rally of more than 8,000 Falun Dafa practitioners was held at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York on May 15, 2015. The themes of the rally were disintegrating the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), stopping the persecution of Falun Dafa in China, and supporting the 200 million people who have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
The rally was one of a series of events held in celebration of World Falun Day and the 23rd anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction. A grand parade followed the rally at noon.
Reporters take photos of the rally stage where over 8,000 Falun Dafa practitioners assembled at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in Manhattan.
Mr. Erping Zhang, spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Information Center, speaks. The front banner reads: Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong.
Mr. Erping Zhang, spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Information Center, spoke first at the rally. He said, “Falun Dafa or Falun Gong is based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It has benefited tens of millions of people since its public introduction in 1992. The number of practitioners within six to seven years outnumbered the members of the CCP. The Party was paranoid and started the brutal persecution in July 1999.
“Since then, hundreds of thousands practitioners have been imprisoned, fired from work, or jailed in mental hospitals and forced labor camps. More than 3,000 were tortured to death.
“The worst thing is that independent investigation confirmed forced live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China. We come here to call on the international community to learn about Falun Gong and stand with us to stop the persecution.”
Mr. Wenxin Wu, director of the Falun Dafa Association in Europe, speaks at the rally.
Mr. Wenxin Wu, director of the Falun Dafa Association in Europe, said, “Not many people knew about Falun Gong when I started practicing in 1994. Now it has spread to more than 40 countries worldwide. Falun Gong practitioners have made efforts to raise awareness of the CCP's persecution. In December 2013, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the CCP's live organ harvesting.
“We call on kind-hearted people across the world to learn about the grace of Falun Gong, and help stop the persecution.”
Kan Hung-Cheung, spokesperson for the Hong Kong Falun Dafa Association, speaks at the rally.
Kan Hung-Cheung, spokesperson for the Hong Kong Falun Dafa Association, pointed out the power of righteousness. He said that Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong continue their efforts in raising awareness about the CCP's persecution while facing harassment by an organized group supported by the Party over the last three years.
Mr. Kan noted that the CCP's interference has had the opposite intended effect. “The interference by the Party has resulted in more people learning about Falun Gong. People often ask practitioners where to learn Falun Gong. More and more Chinese tourists have renounced the Party and its affiliated organizations. Some tourists quit in groups. Recently, one volunteer helped more than 300 people quit the Party within two hours during a march in Hong Kong.”
Yi Rong, director of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, gives a speech.
Yi Rong, director of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, the hosting organization of the rally, said, “The total number of people quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations reached 200 million one month ago. Since then, more than three million people have renounced the Party. I express my sincere appreciation to the countless volunteers who raise awareness and advise people to withdraw from the Party. Only with disintegration of the Party can China have a future.”
Jeremy Taylor, executive director of Asian Family Alliance, speaks.
Jeremy Taylor, executive director of Asian Family Alliance, said, “Based on independent investigation, at least 60,000 Falun Gong practitioners were killed for their organs. The genocide is unpardonable. The perpetrators will be brought to justice in international courts.
“The CCP is an enemy of democracy, freedom of speech, academic freedom, and judicial independence. It attempts to control everything.”
He called on all those who have ever joined the CCP, “With your conscience, renounce the Party as soon as possible!”
Teresa Chu, spokesperson for Falun Gong Human Rights in Taiwan, speaks at the rally.
Teresa Chu, spokesperson for Falun Gong Human Rights in Taiwan, gave the final speech at the rally. She said, “The continuous withdrawals from the Party have smashed the unrealistic illusion of the international community supporting the CCP.
“The Falun Gong Human Rights Lawyers Group tells people living in free societies that the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is the biggest human rights disaster in the world. It is time to bring the perpetrators Jiang Zemin, Zhou Yongkang, and others to justice. The trial must be held before China can evolve into a free country."
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