(Clearwisdom.net) This year, Bristol Rhode Island held its 220th Fourth of July Parade. This was also the fourth time that Falun Gong practitioners in New England area took part in this oldest American Independence Day Parade as the only Chinese group.

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Falun Gong Practitioners' procession
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Waist Drum Troupe

On July 4 this year, the sky was blue and people were bathed in the bright sunshine. The Falun Gong procession was composed of an American-featured float, a traditional Chinese waist drum troupe and a dance group. On the float, practitioners of different ages demonstrated the five-sets of Falun Gong exercises. Four beautifully dressed ladies sat in full lotus position and performed the graceful "Flower Maidens" dance. Spectators on the roadside cheered, "Beautiful! Beautiful!" Some people even copied the movements of the dance.

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Performing dance "Flower fairies" on the float
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Falun Gong group's float in the Fourth of July parade

A waist drum troupe and a dance group followed the float. Our procession received warm applause along the route. Many spectators said to us, "Thank you! Thank you so much!" It seemed as if they had been waiting for us for quite a long time and finally saw us. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" also reverberated from the podium's broadcasting.

It took more than 3 hours to finish the 2.5-mile-long parade. Along the route, the song "Falun Dafa is good" resounded in the air over the entire process. Practitioners expressed that they were very happy to see that so many people got the chance to listen to and see Falun Dafa and have goodness emerged in their hearts.