(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful rally at Hermann Square in front of Houston City Hall in Houston, Texas, on July 17, 2025, to mark the 26-year of persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Practitioners demanded that the CCP immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong and release all illegally detained practitioners.

Falun Gong practitioners in Houston and Austin held a peaceful rally at Hermann Square in front of Houston City Hall on July 17, 2025, demanding that the CCP immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong.

Houston City Councilor: Thank you, Falun Gong practitioners, for upholding Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

Houston City Council Member Tiffany Thomas sent a letter to the Southern USA Falun Dafa Association before the rally, expressing solidarity and support for Falun Gong practitioners in their efforts to counteract the persecution, and praising them for their courage in upholding Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and freedom of belief.

Houston District F City Council Member Tiffany M. Thomas

In the letter, she stated: “I extend my support and recognition to the Southern USA Falun Dafa Association as you gather on July 17 at Hermann Square to affirm the universal right to freedom of belief, peaceful assembly, and protection from persecution.

“The right to practice one’s faith, engage in spiritual reflection, and live free from fear, retaliation, or violence is fundamental to a just and democratic society. Across communities and cultures, those rights are essential to human dignity and must be preserved and defended. I commend your organization’s commitment to upholding the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, and to raising awareness of the importance of human rights in Houston.”

She thanked the Houston Falun Gong practitioners who attended the rally, by writing: “Advocacy efforts like yours play a crucial role in ensuring that the values of freedom and justice are not only protected, but also advanced for future generations in District F. As local leaders and global citizens here in such a diverse microcosm, we must remain vigilant in the face of repression and continue to speak out in support of those whose basic rights are under threat. Your continued work serves as a reminder of the power of peaceful expression and the importance of protecting all communities from harm.”

President of the Southern USA Falun Dafa Association: Stop the persecution of Falun Gong and stop transnational repression

Mr. Yang, president of the Southern USA Falun Dafa Association, condemned the CCP’s long-term persecution of the Falun Gong faith group and called on the United States to take action to stop the CCP’s transnational repression.

“Over the past 26 years, tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have died in prison for refusing to renounce their faith. And as more and more disturbing details have been revealed in recent years, many Chinese Falun Gong practitioners are believed to have died as a result of forced organ harvesting in prisons and hospitals. This heinous crime prompted the U.S. Congress to introduce H.R. 1540, the Falun Gong Protection Act, to sanction those who directly participated in, or indirectly assisted in, involuntary organ harvesting in China.”

He also pointed out that the Chinese communist regime is carrying out a global transnational repression of Falun Gong. “In the United States and other countries, many Falun Gong practitioners and related entities have received death threats. Last year, the CCP used U.S. media companies to publish defamatory reports with the intent of slandering Falun Gong and Shen Yun Performing Arts,” he said.

“Texas Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill SB1349 on May 20, 2025, which aims to prevent Texas residents and other U.S. citizens from being targeted by foreign governments or terrorist organizations by preventing surveillance, coercion, or intimidation.

“Falun Gong practitioners will not stop their efforts to rescue fellow Chinese practitioners until they enjoy freedom of speech and expression, as well as freedom from fear, as we do in this country. When that day comes, Falun Gong practitioners will continue our mission to tell people about Falun Dafa and the great benefits that Falun Gong has brought to the world and mankind.”

Torture Witnesses: Release all Falun Gong practitioners who are being persecuted

A number of Falun Gong practitioners told their personal experiences of being persecuted by the CCP at the rally. Gu Liqing, who now lives in Houston, is from Kunming in China’s Yunnan Province and began practicing Falun Gong in 1998. After the CCP began the persecution, she was detained for four months in 2006 and later spent three years in Yunnan Provincial No. 2 Women’s Prison. In 2011, Gu Liqing was arrested again, and during her detention she was beaten and verbally abused by the guards, forcibly had her blood drawn, and was forced to do labor without rest.

Gu Liqing called on the CCP to immediately and unconditionally release all Falun Gong practitioners who are being persecuted: “Due to the illegal sentencing, I was unable to see my father for the last time. Countless Falun Gong practitioners are still enduring inhuman persecution. I call for the immediate and unconditional release of all persecuted and detained Falun Gong practitioners.”

The Passersby Heard the Facts and Signed the Petition

Passersby paused to listen to the rally speakers and express their support for Falun Gong in the form of signing a petition.

People listen to practitioners speak about the persecution.

City Staff: The truth will win in the end

Parra Juan, who works in the mayor’s office, spoke for a long time with the practitioners that day. He said, “I am very saddened by the occurrence of these [persecution] things, and I will keep this flyer.”

Parra Juan

He believes that the power of faith is very important and also admires the calm kindness and rock-solid belief of the practitioners. “Faith in Falun Gong makes you strong, thank you for seeking the truth, you have encountered many difficulties, but in the end, the truth will win!” he said.

He hopes that Falun Gong practitioners in China will be freed as soon as possible, and he is also optimistic about the future: “Although they are still [being persecuted] in China, you don’t have to be sad, it will get better and better!” he said.