(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held a march in Washington D.C. on July 17, 2025, calling to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 26-year-long persecution of the spiritual practice.

Braving the hot, humid weather, they held a solemn march, which drew the attention of local residents and tourists to stop and watch, take photos, and express their admiration. Some expressed their support for Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts to expose the persecution, thanked them for their persistence in raising awareness of the CCP’s brutality for so many years, and hoped to learn more about Falun Gong.

The march was composed of three groups. The first group focused on the benefits of Falun Dafa and was led by the Tian Guo Marching Band, followed by the colorful flag team, and Falun Gong practitioners holding the banners reading “Falun Dafa is good.” The second group called for an end to the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. Dozens of practitioners dressed in white held the portraits of practitioners in China who died in the persecution. The theme of the third group was “Dismantle the CCP”, supporting more than 440 million Chinese people who have withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations, and condemning the CCP’s transnational repression.

The march, made up of nearly 2,000 practitioners, started from the National Mall, marched along Pennsylvania Avenue, passed the Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters, the Department of Justice, the National Archives Building, the Old Post Office Tower and other institutions, and ended at Freedom Plaza near the White House.

March in Washington D.C. on July 17, 2025 peacefully protests the CCP’s 26-year-long persecution

People Admire Practitioners

Dudley W. Brown, founder and chairman of a conservative organization, praises the practitioners.

Dudley W. Brown, founder and chairman of a conservative organization, waved and gave a thumbs-up several times to practitioners.

Dudley said, “This is amazing! They are against tyranny, and I am happy to stand with them. That’s why I gave them a thumbs-up and waved to everyone—to show that I am with you.”

He said he was also committed to opposing communism. He publicly condemned the CCP as a representative at the UN conference.

He said the march was good, the procession was orderly and large, and it could help Americans know about the CCP’s tyrannical rule in China. On the other hand, the march could also let the American people know that many Chinese people oppose the CCP’s tyranny.

Natalie Meza of the National Gallery of Art

Natalie Meza is the deputy director of finance at the National Gallery of Art. After seeing the march, Natalie wanted to do something and began to think about how she could help, “For people like me who live in my own circle, how can I let more people know? I’m thinking about how I can help. I really hope I can do something.”

She is very grateful that the march exposes the persecution and helps people like her who didn’t know what is happening, “I didn’t know about this before, but I will definitely learn more about it.”

Nabila Tada wishes more people knew about the persecution.

Nabila Tada is the vice president of a marketing company in California. She traveled to Washington with Phillip Pang, a programmer, and felt lucky to see the march and learn about the persecution, “The march is necessary, and we do need to know these things. But I hope we can do more.”

She explained, “We came to Washington for sightseeing today, and we happened to pass by and saw the march. But I think more people should see it and pay attention to this issue.” She said anxiously, “This is far from enough at the moment. If we hadn’t come today, we wouldn’t have learned about this.”

Phillip Pang agreed, saying, “I support what they are doing. The Chinese Communist Party is really bad. The Party is absolutely evil and poses a threat to the whole world. For example, they allow foreign companies to invest while stealing their intellectual property. Everyone knows this.”

Nabila was deeply touched by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance followed by Falun Gong practitioners. She said, “I hope everyone can have these qualities. If we can do this starting with our families and neighbors, these values can spread. If we can really live according to these principles, the world will be a better place.

“I sincerely admire those who have been working hard to let us know the truth. I am also grateful for their perseverance. They insist on standing up to tell the truth and telling the story to the world.”

David Steenberg said Falun Gong’s values resonate with him.

Lawyer David Steenberg works at an international law firm. He was drawn to watch the march on his way to buy coffee during a break from work and said, “The march is attractive. I heard the music and came to watch.”

He said that the size of the march was beyond his expectations, and he was also surprised that he never heard of this persecution before. He felt it was amazing to hear that Falun Gong practitioners have persisted for more than 20 years.

David said, “After seeing this march, I will definitely go online to check Falun Gong and learn more about it. So I think this kind of march can really raise people’s attention.”

Speaking of Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, he said that as a Catholic, they resonate with them, “These principles can resonate with you regardless of whether you have faith or not, because they are the truth. These are real principles, and I believe we all know this in our hearts.”

Peaceful March Commended

Abdul Rahimi was working in Washington that day. He was impressed to see Falun Gong practitioners protesting the CCP’s persecution, saying, “I admire their resistance to communism and the communist regime. I hate communism the most.”

Aabdul said that this was the best march he’s seen in his many years of working in Washington, D.C.: “I’ve seen many marches here, but this is the most orderly, neatest, and best march I’ve ever seen.”

Mary is a government employee. She sat on the side of the road and watched the march intently. She was touched by the peaceful march, and expressed her admiration for the Falun Gong practitioners for marching in such hot weather, “The march is elegant, colorful, and full of positive energy. When people realize this [the persecution], they will want to help.”

Regarding the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, Mary said,“I think the world really needs these, and they are absolutely necessary. We are living in a very difficult time now, and these values are very important.”