(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners across the world organized peaceful parades, rallies, and candlelight vigils to mark the 20th anniversary of protesting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. The CCP, as ordered by Jiang Zemin, former head of the communist regime, launched the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners on July 20, 1999. Falun Gong is a peaceful mind-body cultivation practice whose practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The Minghui website has confirmed the deaths of over four thousand Falun Gong practitioners due to the persecution over the past 20 years. However, 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 is an active participant in the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.
The following are reports of rallies and candlelight vigils in the Czech Republic, France, and Canada.
The Czech Republic, Prague: Rally
Falun Gong practitioners in the Czech Republic held a two-day event to mark the 20th anniversary of protesting the persecution. They held a rally on the Malostranske Namesti Square on July 2019.
They then lined up from the Czech Senate to the Presidential Office with practitioners standing every two to three meters (six-and-half to ten feet) apart. They held portraits of practitioners who died from the CCP’s persecution and talked with passersby about the CCP’s brutality.
Some practitioners distributed fliers. The practitioners handed the Czech Republic Senate Resolution 131/2019, and the verdict of the China Tribunal in London to the Presidential Office. They urged the Czech government to call on the Chinese government to stop the persecution and release all imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners.
A practitioner talks with a visitor about Falun Gong and the persecution
Commemorating practitioners who have died due to the CCP’s persecution
Reenactment of the CCP’s tortures
Reenactment of the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in front of the Chinese Embassy.
Falun Gong practitioners line up along the street to raise awareness of the CCP’s persecution.
Practitioners held a rally and candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy on July 20.
Presidential candidate Marek Hilser (middle in light blue shirt), former Minister Daniel Herman of Culture (sixth from the left), a representative of Amnesty International (second from right), and a pastor joined the practitioners to express their support.
Bělobrádek, Member of Parliament, sent a letter to practitioners
Paris, France: Awareness Raising Under the Eiffel Tower
After holding a series of events, including a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy, and a parade in downtown Paris on July 19, 2019, Falun Gong practitioners held activities calling for an end to the persecution on the Human Rights Square below the Eiffel Tower on July 20, 2019.
Falun Gong practitioners raise awareness of the persecution on the human rights square.
Many people pause to learn about the event
Tourists read the informational posters about Falun Gong and the persecution
Signing a petition protesting the persecution
The Tian Guo Marching Band performed on the square, which drew attention by many tourists. Falun Gong practitioners also demonstrated the exercises, put up posters and talked with tourists about the persecution. Many tourists read the posters and signed the petition protesting the persecution. Some Chinese tourists quit their membership in the CCP and its youth organizations on the spot.
Bouhnik Fabio, who works in the film industry, read the posters and signed the petition protesting the persecution. He said, “I did not know there is such a cruel thing (live organ harvesting). I heard that the Party used tanks to crush dissidents. I dare not imagine that during these times, there is a resurgence of the Nazis’ cruelty to the Jews. People are beaten and killed.”
For the practitioners’ efforts protesting the persecution, Fabio said, “We must fight. It is very upsetting to hear about this.”
Montreal, Canada: Condemning the Persecution in Front of Chinese Consulate
Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate in Montreal on July 17, 2019. They condemned the CCP’s persecution.
Falun Gong practitioners condemn the CCP’s persecution
Several Falun Gong practitioners who were imprisoned in China for their belief narrated their experience. Practitioner representative Wei condemned the CCP’s persecution, and called on the CCP to immediately end it.
The practitioners also collected signatures urging the CCP to release Falun Gong practitioners imprisoned in China. Student Nouha from a school next to the consulate, signed the petition and said, “The persecution is wrong. People should have freedom of belief.”
Relevant articles in Chinese: Paris, France; Montreal, Canada.
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Category: July 20 Events
