(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Canada held a parade to call for an end to the 23-year-long persecution on July 17, 2022, in downtown Toronto.
Some people were inspired to join the parade, while others said they wanted to practice Falun Dafa. After learning about the facts behind the persecution, some Chinese wanted to learn more and quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. Many people expressed their support and said they hoped the persecution would end immediately.
Practitioners held a parade in downtown Toronto on July 17, 2022 to call for an end to the 23-year-long persecution.
Chinese Immigrant: I Want to Practice Falun Dafa
Ms. Chen, who moved to Canada twenty years ago from China, followed the parade from the beginning to the end. She took photos and listened attentively to every Falun Dafa practitioner she encountered along the way.
Ms. Chen said, “I know about Falun Dafa’s miraculous effects of healing and keeping fit. I like its principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I also knew about the persecution in China, so I wanted to join the parade.”
She was happy to learn that there was a Tianti Bookstore in Pacific Mall, where practitioners teach the exercises to the public for free every day.
Tourist from China: I am Lucky to See Falun Dafa in Toronto
Mr. Shi, a tourist from northeast China, walked along with the parade for a long time.
When a practitioner told him why people should quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, he said, “I joined the CCP’s Youth League. I withdrew from it the day before yesterday in Chinatown. I know that the CCP always does bad things. I also believe that good is rewarded with good and evil is punished. That’s why I decided to quit CCP’s Youth League.”
Mr. Shi explained, “It’s really great to see this parade today. I now have a better understanding of why the CCP persecutes Falun Dafa.”
Federal Government Officer: Practitioners are Very Peaceful
John, an Administrative Officer of the Canadian Department of Justice, Federal Government of Canada
John, who works for the Department of Justice Canada as an administrative officer, said, “I see the Falun Dafa parade every year, but I didn’t know much about it. I should have learned more about it. Watching this parade today made me want to learn more about Falun Dafa.”
After talking with a practitioner, he said, “Practitioners are very peaceful. Most other parades I’ve seen were noisy, but practitioners are calm, rational, and peaceful.”
He concluded, “I think this parade is so wonderful. I will read the materials and see how I can help stop the persecution.”
Construction Company Manager: Practitioners Should Have Freedom to Practice
Mr. Andonio Alciario, manager of a construction company, and his daughter
Mr. Andonio Alciario, a manager of a construction company in Toronto, watched the parade with his daughter Ezabella.
He said, “I really like the Falun Dafa teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and the meditation. The CCP’s persecution of practitioners is evil. They should be free to practice because Falun Dafa is so good!”
Financial Analyst from New York: Practitioners Should Have Freedom to Practice in China
Ms. Candi Zarzueia (left), a financial analyst in New York City, and Ms. Carolina Rodriguez (right), a medical research manager in New York, and their friend
Ms. Candi Zarzueia is a financial analyst from New York City. She and two friends were visiting Toronto during the weekend when they saw the parade.
She said, “The parade was wonderful and peaceful. Falun Dafa practitioners should have the freedom to practice their belief everywhere, including China.”
Medical Research Manager from New York: Bring the Persecutors to Justice
Ms. Carolina Rodriguez is a medical research manager from New York City.
She said, “The CCP is wrong to persecute Falun Dafa, especially since practitioners are such a peaceful group of people. They are so kind and friendly. I think today’s parade is a very good way to call for an end to the persecution. I support practitioners’ efforts to bring the persecutors to justice.”
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, 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.
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Category: July 20 Events
