(Minghui.org) A large scale march by European Falun Gong practitioners in Munich this past Saturday gained great support for the ongoing peaceful resistance against the 17-year persecution of this traditional spiritual discipline in China.
Stepping off from Odeonsplatz, Nearly one thousand Falun Gong practitioners followed the stirring sounds of the Tianguo Marching Band, passed by the Supreme Court, Karlsplatz, the train station, proceeded along Maximilian Avenue, finally terminating at Max-Joseph-Platz some three hours later.
The Tianguo Marching Band leads the march.
Nearly 1,000 Falun Gong practitioners stage a peaceful march through Munich.
The terminus of the march, Max-Joseph-Platz.
Western practitioners perform a traditional Chinese dragon dance.
Banners call for the end of the persecution and the forced organ harvesting of imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners in China.
The march introduced Falun Gong, a peaceful practice based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and exposed the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. Practitioners called special attention to the Chinese Communist Party's forced organ harvesting of imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience.
The call to end the persecution was readily echoed by people from all walks of life over the course of the march.
Kindergarten teacher Michelle was excited to see the march. She witnessed a similar event in Vienna while visiting her son, where she learned about the forced organ harvesting.
“This is a disaster for human beings. It is so, so horrible,” she said. “I know why the government harvests organs from a meditation group—because their organs are healthy.”
Michelle said she cannot understand the communist party. “They try to ruin anything that is beautiful, good, or spiritual,” she said, “but they will never win.”
“The communist party looks strong, but Falun Gong's energy is finer and more persistent. So, the party will never win. You should keep bringing people the truth until the persecution ends,” Michelle encouraged practitioners.
Lina, a Ph.D. candidate in zoology at a local university, accepted a flyer from a practitioner. She'd never heard of Falun Gong before, but was concerned about the forced organ harvesting revealed in the flyer.
“During a trip to the U.S.A. 10 years ago, I heard about the organ trade in China. I was 14, and I was shocked,” she said. But she didn't know that it is the government that performs the forced organ harvesting in China, and behind this crime is the 17-year-long persecution of Falun Gong.
Lina condemned the communist regime. “It must be stopped. In Europe a patient needs to wait for years for an organ. How can the waiting time be two weeks in China?”
Raising Awareness on Marienplatz
The march on Saturday was part of a series of Falun Gong events in Munich held over the past week. On Friday, practitioners set up two booths at Marienplatz, where they demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises, passed out flyers and collected signatures against the forced organ harvesting crimes.
People take in the Falun Gong exercise demonstration on Marienplatz.
Signing the petition to condemn the persecution.
Talking to people about Falun Gong.
People read materials about the organ harvesting crimes in China.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., practitioners from a number of European countries scattered around the plaza, talking to tourists in dozens of languages about the persecution. Many people signed the petition without hesitation when they learned about the forced organ harvesting.
Susanna Sonnleiter, a nurse from Allgäu, and her friend Sabine Palme had seen the documentary about organ harvesting in China on 3Sat TV.
Ms. Palme, a teacher, and Ms. Sonnleiter, a nurse, both from Allgäu, believe the persecution of Falun Gong is completely wrong.
“The first impression the documentary gave us was shocking. It is unbelievable. It is unacceptable,” Susanna said. “We must support events like this. The organ harvesting must be stopped.”
“This is related to the dignity of humanity. Everybody is equal, and everybody should have freedom of belief, no matter where they are,” added Susanna.
Sabine had words of encouragement for practitioners. “You should hold on to your belief, even in the face of persecution. If you believe that your path is correct, you will be able to walk it to the end and finally win.”
Susan, a local fashion designer: “The organ harvesting must stop now. Many Germans don't know about this, and some don't want to believe it. But it is time to face the truth now.”
Marcus, a retired government official, signed a petition requesting the Chinese government to stop the crime of forced organ harvesting.
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