(Minghui.org) “The parade was so impressive that people were naturally drawn to it. It was so calm, but clearly conveyed the message.” “The parade was very calm, yet very powerful. The persecution is very sad, but the parade is colorful and really touching,” two German girls Wiebke Mueller and Annika Dittrich said after watching a grand parade held in Berlin to tell people about the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) persecution of Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa practitioners held a grand parade in Berlin's city center on July 15, 2022. They wanted to tell people about the CCP’s 23-year-long persecution of the spiritual practice.
Practitioners marched from the famous Brandenburg Gate in the former East Germany to the Lustgarten.
After learning about the persecution, passersby sign the petition to end the persecution.
Practitioners from Germany and parts of Europe marched three times on July 15-16, through the center of Berlin, including Wittenbergplatz, the commercial center of West Berlin, and the former East Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to the former parade square Lustgarten. July 20 marks 23 years since the persecution started and they wished to tell people about Falun Dafa and expose the persecution.
Parade Impresses People
Many passersby said this was the first time they heard about Falun Dafa. They were attracted to the Tian Guo Marching Band’s music and read the banners which had “Falun Dafa” and “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” written on them. The grand parade consisted of several sections, including practitioners demonstrating exercises accompanied by gentle exercise music.
Next were banners and display boards exposing the live organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Dafa, as well as practitioners in white holding photos of practitioners killed by the CCP. The waist drum team dressed in Tang Dynasty costumes performed and conveyed the message, “The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance”.
An elderly couple who had been involved in biological research were very interested and recorded the parade on their cell phones. The man said, “This is the first time we’ve seen such a march, and we think it was spectacular and very good.” They planned to share the recorded footage with more people.
“The march was great, the music was nice, and there was such a large military band. I could feel what they were conveying was also their real experiences and feelings - it’s wonderful to see such a march!” said Florian Fuerst, who works in construction. “The messages on the banners made it easy for people to know what was going on and want to know more. I was also very shocked by what’s happening (the persecution) in China, and the march made one feel the need to pay more attention to Falun Dafa practitioners. They expressed their message in a very positive way.”
Mr. Faust also marveled at the persistence of Falun Gong practitioners for more than two decades: “I’m very impressed! Please carry on! Because only by persevering can we make a difference and achieve our wishes! I certainly give you my full support.”
Two German girls Wiebke Mueller and Annika Dittrich both said this was the first time they heard about Falun Dafa. Ms. Mueller is about to start her college life and plans to major in sociology, while Ms. Dietrich is studying politics and economics and is in her sixth semester. Speaking of the march, Ms. Dietrich said, “The way that practitioners presented the information was very nice and diverse. They did a very good job.” They both said, “The parade made people think. It inspired them to take action to help practitioners.”
Persecution Should Be Stopped
“This persecution should just be stopped,” Ms. Muller said. “It’s unimaginable how this can happen, how people (persecutors) can attack people like this. Falun Dafa practitioners seem so peaceful. They are just trying to be better people, help others and then peacefully spread the word, and yet they are being persecuted. It’s horrible.”
Ms. Dietrich said, “It’s horrible to persecute people just because they meditate and do the exercises!”
Ms. Mueller said, “We never heard about Falun Dafa and there are many people who haven’t heard of it either. I hope that more people will learn about it and there will be more signatures collected and more discussions about it.”
Ms. Dietrich said she intends to, “Tell our friends and family, so that they can know that practitioners have gone through a lot of ordeals. Perhaps more people will sign to help stop the persecution.”
Ms. Dietrich exclaimed, “It’s marvelous! Practitioners have persisted for 23 years!” She especially admired how practitioners continued to spread the truth, “Especially in China, it’s very dangerous for them. It is amazing that they are so strong that they continue to spread the truth and continue to say No to the CCP!”
Ms. Mueller said she admired practitioners’ resilience: “Practitioners say: We won’t give up until this issue is resolved. They are very courageous!”
Both young women signed the petition to condemn the persecution: “We can at least bring more attention to this issue by signing the petition, so it will help. And it can also draw international attention and put some pressure on the CCP to make a change in this situation.”
Working Together to Stop the Persecution
Many people stopped to watch the parade and chatted with practitioners. Mr. Foster said, “The killings, the torture, the labor camps ... I can’t understand how other countries can let this persecution of Falun Dafa go by.” He believes that the European Union, the United States and other countries should stand up and stop the CCP’s crimes because they violate too many international agreements. He hopes that through his signature, “This small support will help stop the torture and end the 23 years of persecution of Falun Dafa by the Chinese Communist regime.”
After speaking with practitioners for a long time, Nicola believes that too few people know about Falun Dafa and the CCP’s persecution, “I think it’s very good that practitioners are presenting this information.” She explained that this was the first time she and her friend heard about Falun Dafa. After getting the informational materials, they immediately went online to find out more and said, “It’s unbelievable, persecuting people just because they meditate?! Ridiculous, what’s going on?”
Nicola said she saw practitioners’ exercise demonstration, and said, “Falun Dafa is relaxing and awesome. It’s sad to be persecuted just for doing these exercises.” Before she left she said, “At least more people know about Falun Dafa now.”
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Category: July 20 Events
