(Minghui.org) Austrian practitioners held an information day event in Vienna on August 30, 2025, including a rally, march, and exercise demonstration at Helmut-Zilk-Platz, a public square in the city center. The activities were well received by spectators and may people said the music was pleasant and uplifting. They also liked the message of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The march started at Helmut-Zilk-Platz, went past the Vienna State Opera, Parliament Building, and Freyung. It also went along several pedestrian shopping streets such as Ringstrasse and Kärntner Strasse. Some people said they liked the march very much because it truly reflected the values our society needs.
Practitioners held a march in Vienna’s city center on August 30, 2025
The march was led by the Tian Guo Marching Band. Practitioners demonstrated the exercises and carried banners that had information about Falun Dafa. Ladies dressed in white carried wreaths that had photos of practitioners who lost their lives during the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). When they learned of the CCP’s brutality, especially forced organ harvesting, many people signed petitions urging an end to the suppression.
We Need to Know About the Persecution
Neonila, a young woman from Ukraine, watched the march with her friend Mariana from Spain. Neonila said she was impressed by the event. “I learned a lot from the march,” she explained. “It is hard to imagine that such a peaceful practice is banned and even persecuted in China. The younger generation like us needs to know this.”
Mariana said this was the first time she had heard about Falun Dafa and the suppression. “Few people pay attention to being good these days. That’s why I think it is very meaningful for us to work on something that truly benefits all of us,” she added. “We usually just focus on ourselves. An event like this will help us get back on track, and that is why I find it important.”
They both agreed with Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. “These are basic values for us to build a peaceful society, so that people do not harm each other,” Neonila said. “It is not just an expectation for other people, but also a requirement for ourselves. By improving ourselves, we can maintain a better relationship with others and help them.”
A Mind-Opening Event
Claudia works in the energy industry, and her family of three watched the march. She said the melodies played by the Tian Guo Marching Band were “special and pleasant,” and the banners also made her curious to find out more.
“It looks great and I think these programs are very good,” Claudia said. “To me, the most important thing is the message of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, something very meaningful.”
Although this was the first time she had heard about Falun Dafa, Claudia said the practice resonated with her. Both she and her husband were drawn by the principles of Falun Dafa because they said they are “mind-opening.”
“The Purity and Peace We All Need”
Practitioners demonstrated the exercises, and the Tian Guo Marching Band performed at Helmut-Zilk-Platz
Before and after the march, many people heard about Falun Dafa by watching the group exercises and Tian Guo Marching Band perform at Helmut-Zilk-Platz. Danuta and her daughter talked with a practitioner for a long time. She photographed the exercise demo and asked where the nearest group practice was because she wished to learn the exercises. “Falun Dafa has given us the purity and peace we all need in this chaotic society,” she said.
She explained that she moved from Poland 40 years ago, so she could imagine how much Falun Dafa practitioners suffered in China under communism. “No one can see their pain, and no one can speak for them. Some politicians might know, but they remain silent,” she continued. “That’s why it is great we have an event here.”
Hilde works in tourism and said practitioners are peaceful and nice. She also understood the importance of exposing the persecution in China. “The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are beautiful because each word means a lot. If we follow them, our life will be better for sure,” she said.
This was the first time freight merchant Ingo heard about Falun Dafa, and he said he felt the practice was very good. “It think this will bring us peace and harmony. I support you very much,” he explained.
Freedom of Belief
Besides telling people the benefits of Falun Dafa, through posters and speeches at Helmut-Zilk-Platz, practitioners also explained how the CCP persecuted practitioners for 26 years.
Practitioners gave speeches and displayed posters during the event at Helmut-Zilk-Platz
Alexia Pou and Azzurra Gamberini, two young women from Italy, read each poster. “These tragedies are very different from what I have seen in my life. It is as if they are happening in another world,” Pou said. “I cannot understand how some people could be so cruel that they mistreat others badly just because they have a different belief system. I am sorry to see this.”
They both signed petitions to support Falun Dafa practitioners. Gamberini said, “Freedom of belief is important, and people should not be tortured or killed for their faith. This practice is very peaceful, and I do believe practitioners have every right to practice. This event is very touching, and practitioners are great people. I fully support Falun Dafa.”
Ending the Atrocities
Passerby signed petitions to help end the persecution.
Although many people hadn’t previously heard about the persecution of Falun Dafa, especially the forced organ harvesting, they signed the petitions to express their support.
Neonila said what happened to Falun Dafa practitioners could also happen to other people. “It’s hard to imagine someone who lives in mainland China – they know forced organ harvesting exists, and they know this could happen to them. It’s very frightening,” she explained.
Hilde said one petition may not seem significant. “But when there are more and more petitions, the government will know,” she said. “The CCP did organ harvesting secretly and does not admit this. That is why we need to expose it and publicize it.”
Strength and conditioning coach Ilse Sagel said the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa is against humanity, and it must stop. “Falun Dafa teaches people to be good and is highly spiritual. I think a new era is coming,” she said.
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Category: Rallies & Protests
