(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners set up an information booth at the annual Riverwalk Freedom Festival in Milford, Delaware, on September 19, 2026. They demonstrated the exercises and raised awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 27-year persecution of their belief, a peaceful mind-body cultivation practice.
People speak with practitioners and sign a petition at the Riverwalk Freedom Festival in Milford, Delaware, on September 19, 2026. (Minghui.org)
During the event, practitioners told people about Falun Dafa and the persecution and collected petition signatures in support of US Senate Bill S.4009: The Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act. Many people who learned about the atrocities for the first time condemned the persecution and said they supported practitioners.
Resident With Transplant Experience Supports Practitioners
Carmen Cantu, a local resident and a manager at a real estate company, and her family attended the festival. She explained she had some thoughts about organ harvesting because her daughter underwent two kidney transplants. The first kidney was donated by Carmen’s sister, while she herself donated the second one.
Carmen Cantu (Minghui.org)
When she learned about the CCP’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting of persecuted Falun Dafa practitioners, Carmen said, “So scary. The outside world does not hear about this at all. The news does not report on it, but covers unimportant things. Things like this are what truly matter. They are living people, but are being treated as though they are worthless.”
Carmen said that many times, people do not pay attention to things that they don’t think are happening around them. After she signed the petition, she called over her daughter and her daughter’s friend to sign. Carmen explained why: “Because I think young people are the ones to bring about change. Older people tend to stick to conventions, while young people are more open-minded and more able to realize the severity of problems.”
Carmen commended practitioners for traveling from afar to raise awareness of the issue. “I think it is very important that there are volunteers doing this, because you are doing it with your heart.”
People Condemn the Persecution
Rachel Wilson, who runs a residential cleaning company, was appalled by the persecution. She said that although she’d occasionally heard about it in the past, she now truly realized the cruel reality after learning more about it.
Rachel Wilson (on right) (Minghui.org)
Rachel and her oldest son signed the petition. “I want to stop it. If we can stop it, then let’s work together to make it happen,” Rachel said. “I never thought something like this would happen. It’s not a problem if you voluntarily become an organ donor. I am a voluntary organ donor myself. But you absolutely cannot forcibly extract organs from others without permission. I absolutely do not support or accept this. It’s so infuriating. That’s your own body and you are supposed to be the one making decisions.”
Rachel said that what practitioners are doing is “extremely important,” and “it is especially important to spread the truth.” She also urged the international community and the American government to step forward to take concrete actions to protect innocent people.
“I Support Them”
Christy Sparks, a fitness coach and wellness consultant, and her husband Gary Sparks, a retired chef, also visited the booth. They both signed the petition supporting US Senate Bill S.4009.
Upon learning about the persecution and forced organ harvesting, Gary said, “I am absolutely against it. I think this is evil.
“It is great that people can walk up to sign the petition to be submitted to elected government officials. This enables the public to speak up and seek help, and also makes the officials do some concrete work,” he said.
Christy shared her thoughts from the perspective of authoritarianism. She believed that once unconstrained power stands above all else, the ones in power will go to any lengths to exploit and dispossess the people under their rule. She praised practitioners’ efforts: “Because people need help.”
Local resident William Mason comes to the festival every year. He said, after learning about the forced organ harvesting, “I am appalled. I believe that something like this should absolutely not be allowed to exist.”
William Mason (second from left) and his wife (second from right) sign the petition. (Minghui.org)
William commended practitioners for clearly informing the public of the issue, allowing people to see the facts. Asked about his motivation for signing the petition, he replied, “Because I support them [Falun Dafa practitioners]. Absolutely no one should be forced to have their organs extracted. Communism is evil.”
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