(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong held a grand march and rally on Sunday to commemorate the 19^th anniversary of the peaceful resistance against the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Spectators were surprised to see banners at the march that conveyed information about lawsuits filed against Jiang Zemin, former head of the communist party who initiated the persecution. Many tourists from mainland China expressed their support of the lawsuits. Some of them took videos and pictures of the march for their friends and families in China.

The rally on Sunday

The banner read, “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong”

The first large banner read, “Bring Jiang Zemin to justice.”

Jian Hongzhang of the Falun Dafa Association in Hong Kong

Jian Hongzhang, spokesman of the Falun Dafa Association in Hong Kong, briefly reviewed the facts of the persecution. He called upon the Chinese people to recognize the evil nature of the communist party, and to abandon it.

Yi Rong, chairman of the Global Center for Quitting the Communist Party, gave a short speech through a recording. She told the attendees at the rally that every day more than 80,000 Chinese people quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Thus far, more than 310 million Chinese have quit the party and its associated organizations.

A few local politicians and community leaders also gave speeches at the rally.

Through the recording, the chair of the Democratic Party and legislative member Hu Zhiwei strongly condemned the persecution and expressed his respect of Falun Gong practitioners.

Yin Zhaojian, a legislative member of the Democratic Party, pointed out that the human rights situation in mainland China has gotten worse. He also condemned the CCP for making up numerous lies to slander Falun Gong.

Chu Fuchian, former director of the Department of Filing, expressed his anger towards the state-sanctioned organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Mr. Chu believes that the truth will eventually be revealed, and the general public will support Falun Gong. “This day is approaching,” he said.

Former legislative member Zeng Jiancheng condemned the harassment of Falun Gong by the local communist party followers.

The chief editor of Wuqi magazine Chen Yulin called for support of Falun Gong's peaceful resistance.

After the rally in the morning, more than 1,000 practitioners held a grand march. The banners in the march conveyed all types of information about the peaceful resistance; some demonstrated the beauty of this self-improvement practice; some exposed the brutal facts of the persecution; others called to bring the perpetrators of the persecution to justice; and some pointed out that the world will have a bright future if communism is abandoned.

The grand march through downtown Hong Kong

Many Chinese tourists were amazed by the grand march.

Mr. Zhang and Mr. Wang from Shandong Province were surprised, “We didn't know there were so many Falun Gong practitioners outside of China. Nobody dares to talk about it in China.” They both took videos of the march.

Mr. Hou and Mr. Yao from Beijing said that such a march cannot be seen in China.

“But here, they are protected by the police. This is their freedom and right,” Mr. Hou said.

He added: “Although I don't know much about Falun Gong, I support the Falun Gong principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

Ms. Li said: “I don't believe what the government said about Falun Gong. Many people around me practice it and they are all very good people.”

She continued, “It is true that many people are deceived by the government, but many know the truth, and they condemn the persecution.”