(Minghui.org) Practitioners held a march and rally in Toronto on September 14, 2024 and called on people from all walks of life to pay attention to, and help stop the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa.
The march began at Clarence Square Park at 12 p.m., and passed through Spadina Avenue, Bloor Street and St. George Street. It ended at the entrance to the Chinese Consulate, where a press conference was held.
Everywhere the march passed, people took out their mobile phones to record it or take photos. Some asked practitioners where they could learn the exercises, while others followed the march. Some Chinese people decided to withdraw from the CCP.
Practitioners’ march and rally in Toronto was themed: “Stop the CCP’s Persecution and Support Withdrawals from the CCP”
Many people watched the march.
“This Persecution Is Absolutely Wrong”
Cindy said that she enjoyed the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance and praised Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.
Cindy, a corporate mortgage broker, praised the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance and said, “Their music is really amazing.”
When she learned that the band members practice Falun Dafa and follow the principle of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, she said, “It’s interesting. I’ve heard of other spiritual things before, but Falun Dafa is a completely new concept for me. I think ‘truth’ is being honest, ‘kindness’ is having compassion for others, and ‘forbearance’ is being patient which I think is a virtue.”
When Cindy learned that the march exposed the CCP’s brutal persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, she said, “I heard about the persecution before, and I think it’s absolutely wrong. We’re used to being free in Canada and countries like the United States, but in other parts of the world it’s not the norm, and I don’t think that’s fair.”
Regarding the illegal detention and persecution of practitioners by the CCP for upholding their belief, and even having their organs harvested while they are alive, Cindy said, “I think this is even more wrong. People should have freedom to follow their belief and not worry about having their organs harvested.”
Shocked by the Persecution
Melissa said that following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance can help people improve their relationships with others.
Melissa, a counselor, and her family were drawn to the march and stopped to watch. Practitioners handed them a leaflet and told them about Falun Dafa. After hearing that they could learn the exercises online for free, Melissa’s family said they were interested in learning more.
After she heard that practicing Falun Dafa is not just doing the exercises, but also about cultivating oneself according to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, Melissa said, “I think that Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are the basic concepts of human nature, and we should demand of ourselves according to them, so that we can better handle and improve our relationships with others.”
After practitioners described how their family members were persecuted or had their organs harvested by the CCP, Melissa said, “I don’t understand how anyone can carry out such persecution for personal gain! Why did they ban something that can make society and the world a better place? I’m really shocked.”
A Lady Wants to Practice Falun Dafa
A lady from Tibet watched the march and said it was amazing. After practitioners explained what Falun Dafa is, she said, “I really want to learn how to meditate.” Practitioners showed her the Falun Dafa website, and explained that the classes are free. She was surprised and asked if this was true—that they really didn’t charge anything. The practitioners said it was all free of charge.
She said, “I would love to participate in a workshop, do you have one?” The practitioner took her to the Falun Dafa booth, where another practitioner told her that a Nine Day Falun Dafa Workshop would soon be held, and she could learn the exercises.
After she was told the theme of the march was to expose the persecution, the lady said that as a Tibetan, she knew the CCP was very cruel.
Chinese Students Quit the CCP
A Chinese student who recently came to Canada said he read about Falun Dafa on the Internet, but he was not interested because some of his family members were communist officials. He changed his mind after talking with practitioners and quit the CCP.
Another Chinese student stopped to take a photo as the march began, and a practitioner explained why it was held and that the CCP is not China. By withdrawing from the CCP organizations, Chinese can distance themselves from the Party and will not be held accountable for its crimes. The student said, “I understand now, and I wish to quit the CCP.”
Two Chinese students who were eating at a restaurant came out to watch the march. After a practitioners told them about Falun Dafa and how the CCP persecutes the spiritual discipline, the girl excitedly said, “I understand, I really understand!” They both quit the CCP.
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Category: Rallies & Protests
