(Minghui.org) January 27^th is the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of Persecution, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. Practitioners in Finland held two events this year to tell people about the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Practitioners peacefully protested in front of the Chinese Embassy in Helsinki, on January 23 to condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners who follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

On January 25, they held an event at the busy Kamppi shopping center in Helsinki, distributing flyers to tell the public about the persecution in China.

The weather on January 23 was not ideal, but practitioners did the exercises and sent forth righteous thoughts in the rain in front of the Chinese Embassy. A driver passing by gave them a thumbs-up to show his support.

Falun Dafa practitioners peacefully protest in front of the Chinese Embassy.

At the event at the Kamppi shopping center, photos of Falun Dafa practitioners who were persecuted to death drew the attention of many passersby. Many people stopped to learn more and signed the petition to support practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.

Many people stopped to sign the petition to call for an end to the persecution.

“Hearing about this persecution makes me feel sad,” said Sonja Takkunen who lives nearly. “Everyone should be equally respected and valued. There is no reason to harm anyone. Everyone should have freedom of belief and feel safe.”

Sonja Takkunen signs the petition.

Mira Labdala signed the petition.

Adeline, a client director working in Helsinki, thanked the practitioners for raising public awareness about the persecution. She said she felt sad because there’s a lack of media coverage on the issue and noted that some media outlets even repeat the CCP’s propaganda.

Anni, along with her nephew and two nieces, initially doubted whether signing a petition would make any difference. But after talking with practitioners, she was glad to. She said that public awareness can help reduce human rights violations because the more people are aware of the persecution, the less openly the perpetrators dare to commit such crimes.

Nina and her daughter looked at the photos of practitioners who were persecuted to death and signed the petition. She said that the Finnish government could do more to hold the CCP accountable. Nina also took an informational flyer and said she wanted to know more about Falun Dafa.

Three high school students from Vantaa, Alec, Hashi and Dany, were initially hesitant to get involved. Hashi said he hadn’t planned to sign anything, but after speaking with practitioners, he changed his mind. In the end, all three signed the petition.