(Minghui.org) President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on September 24, 2026. That afternoon, Falun Gong practitioners from across the United States held several events on the US Navy Memorial Plaza in Washington, DC—including the Zhen-Shan-Ren International Art Exhibition, group exercises, and a candlelight vigil—to call attention to the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Falun Gong practitioners at the US Navy Memorial Plaza in Washington, DC, on September 24 calling for attention to the ongoing persecution in China (Minghui.org)
One Cannot Remain Silent When Rights Are Being Trampled On
Brian Tolbert from New York happened to pass by the event that day. He was unaware of the persecution of Falun Gong.
Brian Tolbert (Minghui.org)
After talking with people at the site, Tolbert said, “We just had a conversation that was really helpful and informative. I am eager to learn more, do my own research, and then see how I can be supportive.”
An an African American, Tolbert said he was already sympathetic to anybody whose rights are being trampled on or anyone who is not being treated fairly and with compassion.
Tolbert said, “When you are somebody who is oppressed, politics is not an optional thing. I can’t leave the fact that I’m Black at home, right? That’s not a matter of disagreement.
“When you know people who are silenced, when you know people who are oppressed, when you yourself have experienced a lack of rights, you realize that politics isn’t just a simple disagreement about policy. These are things that actually impact people’s lives on a daily basis.
“So when you see any organization, whether they are a government or an advocacy group, if they are looking to quell an opposing viewpoint, you have to wonder why.”
From Knowing Nothing to Deciding to Contact One’s Legislators
Rebecca and Jesse stopped to speak with practitioners and read the pamphlet they were distributing. Rebecca took photos and planned to share them on social media.
Rebecca said, “I feel some urgency to share this with other people like me who didn’t know anything about it. I was thinking of putting them on social media so that I could help spread the word.
“There’s a QR code [on the pamphlet] about contacting legislators to support Senate Bill S.4009. I feel compelled to advocate for that. We’ve got to be hopeful that it will pass and help with advocating for it.”
Jesse was impressed with how peacefully Falun Gong practitioners were protesting and said, “I’m glad that in America this is possible, because in China this kind of open protest would be shut down or just straight up not allowed.”
Xi Jinping was visiting Washington that day, a fact that made the scene before Jesse more significant. He said, “They [practitioners] can come out and say, ‘Hey, we’re here. You’re here. We are in your face, and we are not scared to show you.’ Obviously in a non-aggressive way, because it seems like they’re very peaceful. I’m glad that they’re out here doing their thing while the president is just across the street. Through social media, word of mouth, and printed pamphlets, that’s great. And it finally got introduced as a bill into Congress.”
This Is China’s Millennia-Old Heritage
Juan Manuel from Colombia is very interested in traditional Chinese culture. He has been to China and has practiced kung fu and qigong.
Seeing Falun Gong practitioners’ activities that day, he said, “I am interested in Chinese culture, but when you go to China, you don’t get to see these kinds of gatherings. People should be free to practice anything they want—it’s an important cultural heritage.”
Juan Manuel (Minghui.org)
He added, “What I find beautiful about kung fu and qigong is that it has been a way to show what Chinese culture is to the whole world. I got interested in Chinese culture because of kung fu movies, so I started practicing kung fu and qigong. Now I understand a little bit of the deepness of the culture because of it. Now they’re [the CCP] trying to control it, which is sad because it’s part of a millenia-old heritage. It has been a way for me to reach a spiritual connection with myself and the world.”
Tibetan: Not Just Trade, But Also Human Rights
Kalsang Phuntsok, a Tibetan who works for a municipal government in Canada, also attended the event. “We want to protest President Xi Jinping’s visit here. We want our freedom back; we want our nation back,” he said.
Speaking about the various groups—including Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, and Hong Kongers—who had gathered in Washington, DC, that day to voice their demands, Phuntsok said, “I think it is important because we are sending a message to the world that we are here.
“Despite China’s growing power, we are not intimidated by it. We are not intimidated by it! We are going to speak up every time. Every time a Chinese leader visits the USA, Canada, or wherever in Western countries, we will protest.”
If he could talk to President Trump, he said he would tell him to pay attention to human rights issues in China. Phuntsok said, “The human rights violations, not only in Tibet, but also the Uyghurs who basically are in concentration camps. Also, Falun Gong followers who have been persecuted inside China—many, many Falun Gong followers. Those are things he can raise, at least on humanitarian grounds. Not just trade—trade may be important, but it’s not everything. People have to have dignity.”
Persecution Survivor: Hope More People Will Hear Our Stories
At a rally held at the same location that morning, several Falun Gong practitioners who were persecuted in China talked about their personal experiences. One of them was Emma Guo, whose parents were business owners.
After the persecution began in July 1999, because the entire family practiced Falun Gong, their home was raided at least four times, and all their valuable possessions were confiscated.
Guo said, “All the practitioners around us are such kind, law-abiding, hardworking people who pay their taxes. What threat do they pose to your regime that you have to persecute them like this? But the Chinese Communist Party just can’t help itself. They want total control—not just over your freedom and your money, but over your thoughts. That’s why they persecute you: your thinking falls outside the Communist Party’s boundary, and they simply cannot accept that.”
In 2001, Guo’s mother was sentenced to a year in a forced labor camp. After she was released, she told someone the facts about Falun Gong, not realizing he was the mayor. “He was furious and tried to have her arrested, so she had to flee. To catch her, the police constantly came to harass our family. They even detained my younger brother and me in a government building for over ten hours. The 610 Office staff took turns interrogating us, trying to force us to reveal her location,” Guo recalled.
Emma Guo said that the practitioners who’d been persecuted who spoke that day hoped to make their voices heard so that more would people know that these things are still happening.
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Category: Rallies & Protests
