(Minghui.org) December 10 is International Human Rights Day. Falun Dafa practitioners and supporters in Toronto held a rally in front of the Ontario Legislative Building on December 8. They condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 23-year-long persecution. Several Canadian officials came to support the event. Melissa Lantsman, Member of Parliament (MP) and deputy leader of the Conservative Party, spoke in solidarity via video.

Afterward, they marched to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto and continued the rally. Police vehicles blocked both sides of the road in front of the Chinese Consulate for the march. Rally speakers denounced the CCP’s persecution and expressed their support for the Chinese people’s efforts to resist the CCP’s oppression.

Some Chinese spectators accompanied the march and said they were moved. Some chose to quit their memberships in the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Many local residents said that they were aware of how evil the CCP is and how it oppresses the people in China. Many passersby applauded to support the march.

Falun Gong practitioners and supporters held a rally in front of the Ontario Legislative Building on December 8.

March to the Chinese Consulate in TorontoCanadian officials and practitioners at the event

Conservative Deputy Leader Gives Video Speech to Support Falun Gong

Screenshot of video speech by Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, MP

Melissa Lantsman, MP and deputy leader of the Conservative Party, spoke in solidarity via video.

She said that Human Rights Day reminded us of the CCP’s ongoing persecution of Falun Gong and that the CCP continues to detain practitioners without following legal procedures. She said, “And as we approach this day, we remember these sacrifices to freedom of conscience and religion. We admire and applaud the strength and courage of the millions of Falun Gong practitioners, still suffering under a campaign of fear and intimidation.

"Without freedom of religion, there is no freedom. And we need to protect that in Canada for everyone.”

She said that the Canadian government must stand up and take concrete actions to stop the CCP’s crimes against humanity. She hoped that Falun Gong practitioners would live in an environment without fear.

She thanked practitioners for their uncompromising courage in adhering to the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Even in the face of threats and intimidation, they still stand up for what is right. She said, "Your efforts are having an impact, and they are making a difference at a time where the world needs to see it.

“I have supported you since day one, and I will continue to support you,” she said.

Former Senator: You Shine Light on the CCP’s Atrocities

Retired Senator Consiglio Di Nino, a long-time supporter of Falun Gong

Retired Canadian Senator Consiglio Di Nino is a long-term supporter of Falun Gong. During the rally he said, “Over the years, I have been supporting you. You have shined the light on some of the worst atrocities that the Chinese Communist Party committed against the people. Your continuous efforts are amazing and have played a big role.”

He said practitioners’ voices gave people all over the world a deeper understanding of the CCP’s deeds. He was relieved to see so many people gather for the sake of the Chinese people and participate in this rally and remarked that, in China, there are thousands of Chinese people with extraordinary courage who stand up to the CCP’s intimidation.

He said that for more than 20 years, practitioners have opposed the CCP’s persecution and made the crimes against humanity under the CCP regime public, which has attracted the attention of the whole world, and more and more people have become their supporters.

He said that they were not far from the day when they will succeed. With the collapse of the CCP, its deprivation of human rights and persecution of the people will finally end. He was positive because more Chinese people understand their mission and are taking action.

In conclusion he said, “I am honored to stand with you brave and determined Falun Gong practitioners to condemn all the crimes committed by the CCP. I assure you that, as long as I am alive, I will continue to support you.”

Former MP: The Day When Good Prevails Over Evil Will Come

Wladslaw Lizon, former MP

Wladslaw Lizon, former MP, said at the rally, “I want to tell Falun Gong practitioners in China that they have not been forgotten. We are here and in other countries to help them and stand up with them together.

“We should send a very strong message to the government of China. We should tell them that the end is coming. I grew up in Poland under the community system. We were able to fight it and win, and we will work together. I know that day of victory will come.

“I truly wish that we can gather here one day to celebrate, not to commemorate, but to celebrate the victory of good over evil. And that should be our goal. We also should send a message to our government and governments of other democratic countries and tell them they should have a very strong stand against China.”

Michael Mostyn, the Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada, a Canadian Jewish community human rights organization

Michael Mostyn, CEO of B'nai Brith Canada, said that he was proud of David Matas, the organization’s senior legal counsel, who participated in the investigation of the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. He said he also was gratified that his organization helped launch the documentary Painful Truth: The Falun Gong Genocide, which exposes the forced organ harvesting.

Mostyn expressed his gratitude to Falun Gong practitioners for making Canadians aware of the nature of the CCP and the threat it poses to Canada.

Toronto Mayoral Candidate: You're Not Just Doing This for Yourselves, You're Doing It for All of Us

Toronto mayoral candidate Sarah Climenhaga addresses the rally.

Toronto mayoral candidate Sarah Climenhaga said at the rally that, when she was running for mayor of Toronto this past fall, she got to know Falun Dafa practitioners. She understood their mission and learned about the tough times they have endured.

She said she came to the rally because she believed that many Canadians took freedom of religion and speech for granted, so it was hard to imagine the seriousness of the persecution and human rights’ violations in China.

In her speech, Ms. Clemenhaga said, “I want to thank you for your struggling and for reminding all of us that it's for all of us. We need to be able to speak, to gather, to take care of our own bodies. And there are people all around the world, in Canada, in China, around the world, who each of us are fighting our own battles to try and preserve that freedom. So whatever people are doing here or there, or even if they come, whatever the things that are happening, no one can ever take that freedom that we all have within us and that freedom that you all have experienced with each other.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, late former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology, and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners 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 China’s organ transplant industry.