(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held a series of activities in Toronto on July 20, 2025, to protest the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) 26-year-long persecution. They also raised awareness of the atrocities committed by the CCP. Passersby expressed their support for the practitioners and signed a petition calling on the Canadian Government to take action to help stop the persecution.

Practitioners hold banners to raise awareness of the persecution.

People sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Encouraging More People to Help Stop the Persecution

Josephine (left) hopes more people will request that the Canadian government help stop the persecution.

Josephine is a Pilates teacher at a physical therapy clinic. She took her family out for a walk and encountered the event. She talked with a practitioner and learned about the purpose of the event.

Josephine said this was the first time she’s seen such a large gathering of Falun Gong practitioners. She commented. “The practitioners conducted the event in such an organized and peaceful manner, which is respectful to the community and allows others to take note and see what’s going on in a way that’s comfortable for them.” Josephine agreed with Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. “This is a concept that we should all practice, for ourselves and for the people we love.”

Josephine expressed indignation about the 26-year-long persecution, “It’s outrageous to persecute these people who want a better world!” She also showed her support by signing a petition calling on the Canadian government to take action to help stop the persecution. “It’s a good way to get the information out because the people who can make a difference will take notice.” She said that it’s easy for people to feel they are powerless, but they need courage. It would be very powerful if everyone expressed their opinions to the government on this matter.

Everyone Should Be Allowed to Express Themselves

Resa is a resident and has talked with Falun Gong practitioners many times: “Every time I receive a flyer, I go home and read it. And I had trouble understanding why anyone would have an issue with it. But after talking with the practitioners today, I learned that China is ruled by communists, and there’s no religion allowed. I didn’t know that!”

A practitioner shared with Resa that her mother was incarcerated in a forced labor camp for distributing flyers. Resa replied, “That’s terrible! Everyone should be allowed to express themselves.”

Olha (left) said that forced organ harvesting is a terrible crime.

Olha is from Ukraine and now lives in Niagara. She brought her son to tour Toronto. She told a practitioner, “I’m from Ukraine, so I can understand your pain.” She said that the CCP’s forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners is a terrible crime, so she signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

The Governance of a Country Has to Respect Faith

Kyra is from Singapore. She came to Toronto for graduate school and is now a choreographer. Today, she saw Falun Gong practitioners holding an event for the first time. After learning about the purpose of the event, she signed the petition. Kyra commented: “The practitioners are very resilient. So many of their followers are gathered together, expressing how significant this is.”

Kyra said that the concept of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance is important to society. “Honesty has to be there for anything to have a foundation, and with compassion and kindness. And I think there’s a difference between goodness and kindness. You can be a good person without being nice. But being kind is something that always has to be there, which is compassion.” Kyra added, “You can’t have governance of a country without even considering a spiritual practice. It’s not okay.”

Candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto.

One’s Faith Should Be Respected

Dianira is from Mexico and is currently studying global business management at a college in Toronto. She likes to take walks and explore different communities in her spare time. When she passed by the Chinese Consulate, she happened to encounter the candlelight vigil and stopped to watch.

Dianira said the large gathering looked like a peaceful protest. When a practitioner told her about Falun Gong’s principles, as well as the ongoing persecution in China, she remarked: “With this, you are trying to express respect to others. Each one of us can have our faith and be respected. People also have the freedom to express themselves, so what you’re doing now is very important.

“So if your government [in China] is not allowing this, that is not fair, because they are not respecting your own decision to choose.” When Dianira learned that the CCP is now exporting its persecution to Canadian soil, she remarked: “This is also unfair and wrong to chase people here because, once again, they’re not respecting people’s freedom.

“I will definitely let the people around me know about this matter. People need to know what’s happening around the world these days. In a certain way, we’re all closely connected, so we cannot turn a blind eye when facing injustice.”

Forced Organ Harvesting Is Genocide

Adam Kahn expresses his sympathy and support.

Adam Kahn is a Jewish Canadian. After seeing the candlelight vigil, he began crying and bowed down to express his sympathy for the practitioners’ courage in protesting the persecution.

Adam told the practitioners that his family came to Canada to escape persecution in Nazi Germany during World War II, so he understood the practitioners’ situation very well. “It doesn’t matter which religion you choose; persecution is unacceptable. In this free country, everyone is free to live their own lives. They deserve a good education and opportunities.” When he learned about the CCP’s crime of organ harvesting, he exclaimed: “This is genocide! It’s illegal and it’s terrible! I understand genocide!”