(Minghui.org) Practitioners held a rally and march in Vancouver on July 15, 2023 to commemorate the 24th anniversary of their peacefully protesting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. 

The CCP launched the brutal persecution of Falun Dafa on July 20, 1999. Every year around July 20, practitioners hold activities in Vancouver to tell people about Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) and call for help to help end the persecution.

Practitioners held a rally and march in Vancouver on July 15, 2023 to mark the 24th anniversary of their peacefully protesting the CCP’s persecution.

The march started from Granville Street at 1:30 p.m., led by the Tian Guo Marching Band, followed by the banner team and the exercise demonstration team. When the march passed through a busy commercial street, many people stopped to take pictures. A passing pick-up driver shouted, “Falun Dafa is good!”

Practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises near the Vancouver Art Gallery on July 15Introducing Falun Dafa to passers-by

We Must Speak out for Falun Gong

Ms. Chen Lizhen addressed the rally.

Ms. Chen Lizhen is renowned for upholding justice during the Hong Kong protest in 2019. When the police mistreated young people, she used her mobile phone to broadcast the incident live, exposing the injustice. Numerous young people who participated in the protest were arrested. She went to court to attend the hearing and she also visited them in prison. 

She said, “I am very sad that the CCP has continued to persecute the Falun Gong spiritual group for 24 years. But we must always speak out. This continuous persecution is the persecution of all Chinese people. Therefore, we must take more actions to stand up, and we overseas people must stand up for them, because it is for our own future or the next generation.”

She continued, “Kindness and truth; this is one of the factors to destroy the CCP. One day the CCP (will be) eliminated. Falun Gong practitioners can return to China freely, we can also return to Hong Kong freely, and we can also go to China freely. We will not be afraid anymore.”

"Thank You, Falun Gong, for Persevering for 24 Years"

Chinese immigrant Chen Damin was waiting for friends on the street and saw the parade. He said, “This is the first time I’ve seen a Falun Gong march. Falun Gong has been persecuted for 24 years. When (the CCP) began suppressing it, I was very young and didn’t know what really happened. Thank you, Falun Gong, for persevering for 24 years. The CCP will collapse.”

He said, “This regime is evil, should be overthrown, and should not exist. Because we are a society with freedom of information, everyone is aware of the crimes they (the CCP) have committed in the past few decades.”

Speaking out for the Victims Is Canada’s Duty

Scott Phillips and his wife Kathy

The peaceful scene as practitioners did the exercises caught the attention of Scott Phillips and his wife Kathy, who were traveling from Calgary. Kathy said, “We have seen Falun Gong exercises before, and we know that they are persecuted in China like other religions. We also know about the live organ harvesting targeting Falun Gong and other groups, like the Uyghurs. It’s so evil.” 

Scott said, “Everyone has freedom of speech and should be heard. Every country has a responsibility. For Canada, we should all stand up and uphold our (universal) values. In fact, letting the Chinese know the nature of the CCP is the best way to change, but the dictatorship controls the media. So it is important to let people know the truth here.”