(Minghui.org) Over a thousand Falun Dafa practitioners from more than 30 European countries held a rally and parade in Paris, France, on August 26, 2023. The parade showcased Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) and exposed the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. Wherever the procession went, spectators had good things to say about it.
Practitioners’ parade in the center of Paris on August 26. Françoise Hostalier, former French Minister of Education and deputy head of the French delegation to the European Commission (the woman in a light blue suit in the front row) participated in the march.
Practitioners’ parade in Paris
Practitioners paraded in the center of Paris and in the 13th District where many Chinese people live. Practitioners set off firecrackers at the starting point (an Asian tradition), the Place de la République, which is a symbol of freedom, equality, and fraternity, at noon. They marched around the main shopping malls in Paris and arrived at Stock Exchange Square. At 4 o’clock that afternoon, they held another parade that set off from Italian Square in the 13th District, circled the street where many Chinese gather, and then they returned to Italian Square.
The Tian Guo Marching Band played along the parade route.
Falun Dafa in Europe
More than 1,400 practitioners participated in the parade that day. The European Tian Guo Marching Band took the lead. Behind a large rotating Falun emblem, practitioners carried banners with the Falun emblem. Then came a large model of Zhuan Falun, Falun Dafa’s main book, in Chinese and other languages, and the words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” Practitioners demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises came next.
Practitioners from different European countries carried banners in their own languages to show how Falun Dafa is practiced throughout Europe. The dragon dance team and two golden lions followed them.
Next was the section of the parade calling for an end to the CCP’s persecution. Female practitioners dressed in white (the color of mourning in most Asian countries) held portraits of practitioners in China who were tortured to death. They were followed by practitioners holding banners and display boards calling for an end to the persecution and a team congratulating the more than 415 million people who have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
Practitioners in the parade
The parade attracted the attention of passersby, many of whom gave practitioners a thumbs up when they saw the team displaying information about Falun Dafa. After learning about the CCP’s persecution and the crime of organ harvesting from living practitioners, many people signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
Government Employee: Falun Gong Is Wonderful
Valérie Diamonka said the practitioners were peaceful.
Valérie Diamonka, a government employee, works in the social security administration. She read a leaflet about the CCP’s organ harvesting and learned that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are Falun Dafa’s guiding principles. “I think this is really great,” she said.
Ms. Diamonka said that her work is stressful and she took medication to relieve her stress. She thanked practitioners for telling her about Falun Gong.
When she learned that the CCP harvested the organs of living Falun Gong practitioners for huge profits, she said that this was really terrible and that everyone should know what is happening in China.
Hospital Employee: The Persecution Is Stupid
Marie (right) and her friend Julie support practitioners.
Marie works in a maternity hospital, and she and her friend Julie signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
Marie praised the practitioners’ grand and peaceful parade. When she learned that the CCP has not allowed people to practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance over the past 24 years, she said, “[That] is completely stupid.”
Julie, who works on computers at a hospital, said the music drew them to stop and watch. She praised Falun Gong practitioners for letting people know the facts. They both said that the parade had strong energy.
Both Marie and Julie said that it was important for practitioners to expose the CCP’s persecution. Julie said, “This activity is important. It can open people’s eyes and help them learn about the persecution in China.”
The Parade Is Amazing
Gilles Pottier, a retired teacher, said the parade was amazing.
Gilles Pottier, a retired teacher in Paris, was surprised to see that there were no police maintaining order in the parade. He said that the practitioners’ belief was very good: “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are beautiful values.
“What I admire is that there are no police here, only one person leading the parade. When the French march, they need 50,000 police officers to maintain a parade of 200 people, because we don’t know how to remain orderly. This parade is very well organized. There was no noise, just music—I found this powerful and amazing.”
When he heard that the CCP persecutes practitioners, he said that the CCP is a fascist party and a dictatorship. “Just like the Communist Party that people are familiar with, one day, this regime will collapse. I look forward to this for the Chinese people.”
A Peaceful Parade
It suddenly began raining before the parade started in the afternoon. The members of the Tian Guo Marching Band quietly stood in the rain, neatly lined up. Practitioners continued to do the exercises in the rain, which passersby noticed.
Chbiki Ouafa, a pastry chef, was very touched when she saw practitioners persevere in the rain. She signed the petition and said, “I feel that the people who participated in the parade are very united. When they practiced together in the rain, I was completely drawn in and really wanted to know what they were doing. By watching them, I feel that they are calm and peaceful.”
Chbiki Ouafa was impressed by the parade.
Ms. Ouafa said she agreed with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance: “They believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, that is to say, they are peaceful and humble and get along well with everyone. We really like that. People like practitioners. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are the basic principles of human existence. If we lose these principles, we will have no hope.”
Practitioners tell people about Falun Dafa along the parade route
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