(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners gathered at Queen’s Park in Toronto on September 19, 2026, to expose the attacks they have encountered while raising awareness of the persecution of their belief. They called on people from all walks of life to resist the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) transnational repression and to defend Canada’s human rights and freedom.

Falun Gong practitioners and supporters gather at Queen’s Park in Toronto to call on people from all walks of life in Canada to pay attention to the CCP’s transnational repression. (Minghui.org)

Professor Emeritus: We Cannot Give In to Transnational Repression

Dr. Maria Cheung, Professor Emerita at the University of Manitoba, addresses the rally. (Minghui.org)

Dr. Maria Cheung, Professor Emerita at the University of Manitoba, has studied China’s human rights violations for years. She’s recently focused on the CCP’s foreign interference and transnational repression in Canada.

Dr. Cheung noted that the CCP is constantly monitoring and collecting Falun Gong practitioners’ personal information. She said, “If you are walking on the street, a stranger approaches you and mentions something about you, you may wonder, ‘How does he know so much about me?’ This is transnational repression. If after speaking at a rally, you family member in China is invited for a ‘chat,’ this is also transnational repression.”

Dr. Cheung said that Falun Gong practitioners often encounter verbal abuse, harassment or similar situations while handing out information or talking to people about the persecution outside the Chinese Consulate.

She urged those who encountered similar situations to make records of the events. She said, “Whenever someone harasses them [Falun Gong practitioners], they take photos and record the incident. If you see someone watching you, record it. When we have collected a thick stack of records, this will be important in pushing for a protection act.”

Dr. Cheung concluded, “We must keep up our efforts. Don’t make any compromises regarding transnational repression. We must say no to it. Ultimately, one day, we hope to, in addition to legislation rejecting foreign interference, we will also have related laws regarding transnational repression.”

Practitioner Calls on Canadians to Stand on the Side of Justice

Matthew Leeder calls on the CCP to stop persecuting Falun Gong and to end the transnational repression in Canada. (Minghui.org)

Matthew Leeder, a Falun Gong practitioner and host of the event, also spoke at the rally: “There are numerous well-documented cases showing that relevant Chinese government officials have attempted to use political pressure to prevent Canadian politicians from supporting Falun Gong.”

He cited the interference that Shen Yun Performing Arts has encountered in Canada in recent years. Shen Yun is a performing arts group that showcases traditional Chinese culture through Chinese classical dance and music.

Mr. Leeder spoke about how Shen Yun has faced diplomatic pressure and bomb threats during its tours in Canada. This past March, the Living Arts Center in Mississauga received bomb threats, causing shows to be delayed by approximately two hours. In April, Shen Yun was scheduled to perform at the Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts in Toronto and also received bomb threats. The performances were canceled. The group returned to Toronto in June and all five shows were nearly sold out.

“This is a matter of critical importance to Canadians because a foreign regime is attempting to curtail the freedom of expression of Canadian citizens—whether regarding matters of faith or artistic creation—on Canadian soil. If left unchecked, this situation could eventually spread to other areas of society, enabling a foreign regime to dictate the speech, thoughts, and actions of Canadians. Today, it is an artistic performance being canceled; tomorrow, it could be your business that gets ‘canceled.’”

Leeder concluded, “I hope Canadians can stand on the side of justice and support our appeal. End the persecution of Falun Gong in China and the transnational repression faced by Falun Gong practitioners in Canada.”

Practitioner Recounts Harassment in Canada

A Falun Gong practitioner describes the harassment she’s encountered in Canada. (Minghui.org)

For more than two decades Ms. Pan has routinely stood outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto to expose the persecution of Falun Gong. She said she has persisted for so many years because she wants more people to learn the truth and not be deceived by the CCP’s lies. She said that over the years, she and other Falun Gong practitioners have been verbally abused, their banners and display boards torn down, and they were photographed without their permission.

She said, “The tactics include assaults, verbal abuse, destroying banners and display boards, and destroying the frames used to hold banners. Taking photos is a common occurrence. Their objective is to drive us away so that we won’t stand outside the consulate. There are also occasions when consulate officials instruct security guards to open the door earlier and let people queuing up outside in so that they won’t hear our message.”

Yet, many Chinese citizens have learned the truth and choose to quit the CCP. A woman told Ms. Pan that she has told consulate employees the following: “People improve their health through practicing Falun Gong. They improve their character and become noble people through following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, what’s wrong with that? Everyone in the world is learning Falun Gong; why do you hate Falun Gong so much?”

Last year on October 7, while Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Zhang and others were outside the Toronto city government building to inform people about the persecution, a Chinese man suddenly came over and snatched the materials held by practitioners, tore them up then knocked the mobile phone out a practitioner’s hand. The man even raised his hand to strike someone but was stopped by a government employee who quickly came to their aid. The man returned on October 18.

Ms. Zhang said she will not stop exposing the persecution: “The CCP uses [their agents] to undermine Dafa on the basis of lies and deceit. As the truth spreads, people will understand.”