(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held two candlelight vigils, one in Pingtung City’s Millennium Park on July 12, 2026, and the other in Kaohsiung City’s Caogong Canal Waterfront Park on July 18. The vigils honored those practitioners who lost their lives during the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing persecution of Falun Gong which began on July 20, 1999. Many public representatives and their staff attended the events to support practitioners’ efforts to end the 27-year-long persecution.
A peaceful yet solemn atmosphere prevailed at both Millennium Park and Caogong Canal Waterfront Park as night fell and the candles flickered. Practitioners sat silently in tribute to their lost fellow practitioners. They called on the international community to help stop the persecution and condemn the state-sanctioned live forced organ harvesting.
Falun Gong practitioners held candlelight vigils in Pingtung City’s Millennium Park on July 12, 2026, and Kaohsiung City’s Caogong Canal Waterfront Park on July 18. (Minghui.org)
Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises at Caogong Canal Waterfront Park in Kaohsiung City. (Minghui.org)
Representatives Support Falun Gong and Condemn the CCP
Several representatives came to the vigils to show their support for practitioners and condemn the CCP’s 27-year crackdown on the spiritual discipline, which is also known as Falun Dafa. They commended the core principles of the practice: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chang Po-Yang came to support practitioners’ peaceful efforts to end the persecution. (Minghui.org)
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chang Po-Yang said that when he was in the fourth grade, his teacher taught the Falun Gong exercises to the class. At the time, he was too young to appreciate the deeper meaning of the practice, but he later realized that it is a cultivation practice of the Buddha school that improves physical health and elevates one’s spiritual level.
“Falun Gong deserves to be more popular in Taiwan,” Chang said. He believes that Falun Dafa’s resistance to persecution differs from other anti-CCP movements: “Falun Gong’s peaceful and rational appeals embody the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The practice motivates people to improve their values, emphasizing self-cultivation to become good people. I believe this is a movement that elevates the values of human civilization. The practice has inspired many people to pursue better values.”
Chang referred to Falun Gong’s 27-year resistance to the persecution as “the ultimate display of courage and perseverance.” He emphasized that Falun Gong constantly shows international society the true colors of the CCP. “In fact, resisting the CCP’s hegemony is not only the responsibility of Falun Gong practitioners, but also the mission of everyone in Taiwan—we must step up and stand with practitioners. This is also defending our hard-won democracy and freedom.”
Falun Gong Popular in Taiwan
Chang Han-Chung said that society should promote Falun Gong’s principles. (Minghui.org)
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chang Han-Chung praised the practitioners for holding themselves in accordance with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance: “Falun Gong is practiced by people around the world. Only the CCP in mainland China suppresses it.Falun Gong is very popular in Taiwan. It is practiced by people from all walks of life, and the public knows the significance of the practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.
“The practice promotes the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance; practitioners are heading toward a bright and upright future. We appreciate their sacrifice and hope that everyone will come to learn more about Falun Gong, show their support, and condemn the CCP’s brutal persecution.”
Practitioners Awaken People’s Consciences
Pingtung County Councilor Hong Ming-Chiang (Minghui.org)
“When the CCP launched its persecution of Falun Gong in 1999 in an attempt to eradicate the practice, a war between truth and evil began,” said Pingtung County Councilor Hong Ming-Chiang. “Angels will never be defeated, and practitioners are determined to awaken people’s consciences by exposing the persecution.
“I hope their sacrifices over the past 27 years will expose the CCP’s evil nature to the public,” Hong said. “The CCP has extended its evil claws toward the whole world. Only by uniting everyone together to fight against the CCP will we defeat the evil.”
Pingtung County Councilor Lee Shih-pin (Minghui.org)
Pingtung County Councilor Lee Shih-pin said the CCP’s persecution is relevant, and everyone should be outraged by the atrocity of forced organ harvesting. He expressed admiration for practitioners’ unwavering resilience in defending universal values and human rights. He also condemned the CCP: “Harvesting people’s organs while they are still alive is tantamount to murder. We must expose this for the world to see, so everyone stands together to oppose this heinous crime.”
Hou Chao-ming, general manager of Kaohsiung City Councilor Lin Chih-Hung’s office, said that Falun Gong should be embraced by people around the world. “Unfortunately in mainland China, practitioners there face unprecedented suppression, which is unbelievable,” he said. “Falun Gong has suffered great injustice, and of course they should expose the persecution.”
“Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are universal values. Falun Gong practitioners in China risk their lives to uphold their belief. Their unwavering faith impresses me... While condemning the CCP and supporting Falun Gong, we should learn from practitioners’ spirit, and cherish the freedom, democracy, and blessings we have.”
Truth Can Conquer All Fallacies
Chiang Jen-Chuan, office director for Pingtung County Councilor Chiang Yueh-hui, said that people should cherish democracy and freedom. (Minghui.org)
Chiang Jen-Chuan, office director for Pingtung County Councilor Chiang Yueh-hui, was outspoken regarding the CCP: “There are no human rights and truth in China, only autocracy and totalitarianism. Nonetheless, I believe truth can conquer all fallacies. We should learn from Falun Gong practitioners and believe in human rights, democracy, and truth.”
Li Yan-Ni, citizen representative of Pingtung City (Minghui.org)
Li Yan-Ni, citizen representative of Pingtung City, expressed a very positive impression of practitioners. She said they cultivate their minds and uphold their faith, which has positive effects on society overall. “I believe that the darkness will eventually pass. As long as we have light, kindness, and conscience in our hearts, and as long as we uphold Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, the world will usher in peace,” she said.
Passersby Support Falun Dafa and Oppose the Persecution
Falun Gong practitioners displayed a banner at the event in Kaohsiung on July 18 to protest the persecution. (Minghui.org)
Ms. Chen came to the vigil in Kaohsiung with her elder sister, who is a practitioner. This was her first time attending a Falun Gong event. She said, “The atmosphere feels solemn and magnificent. The practitioners are well-organized and friendly. I sense an upright energy, which makes me feel refreshed and comfortable.
“My sister has been practicing for over 20 years. Through her, I have witnessed how wonderful Falun Dafa is,” she added. Seeing the photos of practitioners who died due to persecution, she said, “The CCP should not persecute this group of good people. Falun Gong’s protests are justified, and they are doing the right thing.”
Mr. Wang, a devout Christian, had observed practitioners’ gatherings from afar many times before. This time he approached practitioners and said the interactions made him feel good: “My brother-in-law is a pastor, and he has to be extra-careful when he goes to China because the CCP suppresses religions and constantly monitors believers.”
Talking about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, Mr. Wang said, “How can they do this? It’s outrageous. The CCP should not act so arbitrarily... It’s not easy to protest the CCP’s persecution; practitioners are walking an arduous path. However, upholding one’s faith is positive and meaningful, and this deserves our support.”
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Category: July 20 Events
