(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners across the world held events such as parades, rallies and candlelight vigils to solemnly commemorate practitioners who have died as a result of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 20-year-long persecution, which was initiated on July 20, 1999.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of over four thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in the persecution over the past 20 years; the actual number is suspected to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith. There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.
Parade and Rally in San Francisco
Falun Gong practitioners held a parade in San Francisco on July 20, 2019. Some Chinese tourists joined the parade to support Falun Gong. The parade began at City Hall and ended at Chinatown. A rally was held after the march.
Practitioners do the exercises in front of San Francisco's City Hall on July 20, as part of the day's events.
Practitioners held a parade to inform people of the on-going 20-year-long persecution.
A TeacherfromChinaJoinstheParade
Charlie, a teacher from China visiting his family in the U.S., joined the parade. He said, “I have witnessed the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. My family members practice Falun Gong and my colleague also practices.”
“I know that the CCP has damaged Chinese people's traditional values. Falun Gong's principles teach people to be Truthful, Compassionate, and to have Forbearance, and they are restoring mankind's morals. I'm participating in this parade to express my admiration for Falun Gong,” he explained.
Public Express Their Support
Mario Jesus and his daughter Maria
Mario Jesus and his daughter Maria from Chile were visiting San Francisco. They came across practitioners practicing the exercises in front of City Hall and paused to watch. “The music is beautiful. It makes you feel very peaceful and happy,” Jesus said. “The yellow color is eye-catching, and makes me feel very happy,” Maria said.
They were pleased to learn that Falun Gong practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Jesus said, “If we all maintain peaceful and kind hearts, our surroundings would become better.”
About the CCP’s live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, Maria said very sadly, “I'm so sad to hear that this odious thing is happening in China. I hope it will end soon.”
Louis Velez
Louis Velez from Colombia works at a high-tech company in San Francisco. He knew that practitioners were being persecuted in China, and also knew about the state-sanctioned live organ harvesting from practitioners.
He said, “I'm very pleased to see Falun Gong practitioners exposing the CCP's atrocities. I think they should expose these atrocities to the entire world and let people know what's happening in China.”
Louis said he admired practitioners' persistent efforts to expose the CCP's atrocities for 20 years. He said, “If we stand firm and continue to protest, I am convinced that justice will prevail over evil.”
Banners Line Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles
Holding banners with information about the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners lined Wilshire Blvd and S. Vermont in downtown Los Angeles at 5:30 p.m. on July 19, 2019. The banners had messages such as, “Falun Dafa is good”, and “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong”. Reporters from Fox 11 TV covered the event and interviewed several practitioners who survived the persecution in China.
Falun Gong practitioners hold banners on Wilshire Blvd and S. Vermont, Los Angeles
Rally venue
Practitioners from Los Angeles held a candlelight vigil on July 19, 2019 to commemorate the practitioners who died as a result of the CCP’s 20-year-long persecution.
Passerby Tom rode past on his bicycle, but stopped to speak with practitioners. He said that he had traveled to China. He was shocked to learn about the state-sanctioned live organ harvesting and said, “This is really bad. The CCP is stealing their organs. I did not know this.”
Passerby Robin stopped and took a flyer. After reading it carefully, he gave practitioners a thumbs up.
The practitioners held a candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. to commemorate the practitioners who died as a result of the CCP’s 20-year-long persecution.
Relevant article in Chinese: Los Angeles, California
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Category: July 20 Events
