(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from multiple European countries held a rally and march in Vienna on August 30, 2025. The rally was held at Helmut-Zilk Platz. They demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises and raised awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution in China. The European Tian Guo Marching Band performed on site. Many people stopped to watch and signed a petition calling to end the CCP’s persecution.
Practitioners held a rally and demonstrated the exercises at Helmut-Zilk Platz, Vienna on August 30, 2025.
A practitioner sings Falun Dafa Is Good
A tourist learns the sitting meditation.
People talk to practitioners to learn more about Falun Dafa.
A passer-by signs the petition calling to stop the persecution.
The European Tian Guo Marching Band, waist drum team, and the lion and dragon dance team participated in the parade. At 3:00 p.m., practitioners set out from the starting point and marched along the Ringstrasse, which surrounds the main attractions in Vienna’s inner city. The procession passed the State Opera House, Maria-Theresien-Platz, Heldenplatz, the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament, the City Hall, and several famous shopping streets before returning to the starting point.
Practitioners held a march in Vienna on August 30, 2025.
Chinese Student Applauds the March and Quits the CCP Organizations
“I really admire you. Your parade is so long and full of content. I never expected it,” said Mr. Wang, a Chinese student in Germany. While visiting Vienna, he encountered practitioners wearing yellow T-shirts on the street and asked about the parade. The practitioner took him to the rally location. After reading the display boards, he chatted with several practitioners. He was surprised by the large number of Western practitioners and told the practitioner, “I really admire you.”
The practitioner told him that millions of Chinese have already withdrawn from the CCP organizations. He was initially hesitant, but then the practitioner gave him many examples, explaining why he should stay away from the CCP. If he didn’t, he would be implicated when the CCP is brought to justice. He then agreed to withdraw from the Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers on the spot, using an alias.
After the parade began, he followed along for a while and applauded the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance. He was also surprised by how long the parade was. When he saw the practitioner who helped him withdraw from the CCP on The Epoch Times website, he said, “The parade was so long and so colorful, with dragon and lion dances, waist drums, and more. I never expected it!”
Lawyer: The World Will Be Better If Everyone Follows Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
Lawyer Jenny (left) and nurse Julian from Germany praise the parade.
Jenny, a lawyer from Hamburg, Germany, and Julian, a pediatric nurse, said they’ve seen Falun Gong practitioners several times in Vienna over the past two days. When they saw the parade, they took flyers and talked with a practitioner. They also saw information in the march about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting from Falun Dafa practitioners, and they both signed the petition calling to end the atrocities.
Talking about the parade, Jenny said, “Yes, we observed it and we think it’s good with the music and we also think it’s good that something like this exists.” Julian agreed, “And we also think it’s good that [the CCP’s persecution] are being brought to attention.”
Regarding why they signed the petition, Julian said, “Beforehand, we were a bit overwhelmed by the uniformity of the event and, of course, we saw many signs about organ trafficking and the suppression of religious freedom, which is fundamentally inhumane. What people want to believe, what people want to practice, shouldn’t be labeled a crime, and that’s why we thought it was important to sign the petition.”
Jenny said, “Also because organ trafficking is, of course, a crime, so you can’t incapacitate people and lock them up in penal camps because they have free opinions. And that’s the reason why I signed.”
When asked about the CCP’s banning of practicing Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, Jenny said, “I don’t think we can imagine that, because we come from Germany and live in Germany and grew up in a democratic state. It’s inconceivable to us that something like that would be banned.”
Julian said he agreed with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, “I just think that humanity should be based on the principles. There are a few more that shouldn’t be neglected, but these are three good ones to start with.”
“If the world heeded these three principles, I think we would be a better society,” Jenny added.
Tour Guide: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Divine
Tour guide Manuela
Tour guide Manuela said she noticed many people with yellow shirts. “I thought to myself, this must be something big. I’ve never heard of Falun Dafa. But I thought it was something to do with yoga or qigong or tai chi or Tibetan monks, something like that. But the yellow color is very striking, it attracted me,” she said.
When she learned that Falun Dafa practitioners follow Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, she said, “Very divine, it’s divine principles indeed. I’ve never heard of it. That’s something completely new.”
A practitioner told her that in China the CCP has banned people from practicing Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance for 26 years, Manuela said, “That’s terrible. Why is it banned? It’s like destroying Tibetan monks and Tibetan monasteries because China is afraid.”
When she heard about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting, Manuela signed the petition and said, “I signed with complete conviction because I think it’s terrible that people can be killed for their organs. Especially when it’s regulated by the state, that’s absolutely terrible. And I’m convinced that this is terrible, absolutely criminal, and that it shouldn’t happen under any circumstances.
“I’m shocked by it. That’s the worst thing you can imagine that a state should authorize and make this legal. Absolutely terrible. Incomprehensible. I’m from Austria, which is thank God, a democracy, a free country. It’s becoming increasingly important.”
She added, “Everyone should know this. A lot more people should be posting on social media these days and then spreading the word. We don’t know anything about China in Austria.”
Wolfgang signed the petition
Wolfgang has been driving a tourist carriage in Vienna for 42 years and said he’s often seen practitioners’ activities. This time, he signed the petition.
Practitioner from Holland: Falun Dafa Has a Positive Impact on Me
Practitioner Gokhan from the Netherlands participated in the event.
Practitioner Gokhan, from the Netherlands, started practicing Falun Dafa in 2017 and is a member of the Tian Guo Marching Band. He said, “We are here together with many different practitioners from many different European countries, more than 10. Falun Dafa is severely persecuted in China by the communist regime, so [by our being here] people have a chance to know about that, and also have a chance to show their support by signing a petition. I think our activity is very valuable.”
He said many people stopped to listen to the band’s performances, and some danced to the music and applauded. He said, “We get their attention in a positive way, because music unites people. It’s like a universal language, people can understand, and relate to it. Which makes the atmosphere very warm, very welcoming, to let people actually take a look at what we are doing, what we want to share with the public. So I think it’s only helpful for the people to learn more about it.”
Talking about practicing Falun Dafa, he said, “I’ve practiced Falun Dafa for so many years, it brings a lot of positivity to my life. I’m in good health, and have a clear mind. Practitioners live by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. I think these values benefit all of humanity. It benefits me a lot, so that’s why I also feel compelled to share this message with more people.”
He said that Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are China’s traditional values. The CCP dehumanizes the Chinese people and takes away their roots. “Communism comes from Karl Marx, who was from Germany. He was kicked out of Germany for introducing this type of wicked idea [communism].”
He hopes more Chinese people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. He said, “I have enough wealth. I’m a well educated person. So I don’t do this for the money or to get some publicity for myself, but actually to do good for our country here, that we keep this freedom here, but also that Chinese people can get this freedom as well, to make a choice themselves. It doesn’t matter whether they choose to practice Falun Dafa or not, but don’t be forced [to go along with] the communist’s lies.”
All content published on this website is copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Rallies & Protests
