(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver, Canada are holding activities calling for an end of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s persecution of Falun Gong. July 20 marks 8 years since the persecution officially began in 1999. Local people condemned CCP atrocities, supported the practitioners' righteous act of protesting the persecution, and praised the grace of Dafa and kindness of practitioners.

On July 14, Falun Gong practitioners held a Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance Art Exhibition and set up posters exposing the persecution in front of the Art Museum in downtown Vancouver. Many people watched carefully and learned about the persecution of Falun Gong over the last eight years.

Two tourists from the Czech Republic, who had themselves experienced Communist party control, said, "We know what the communist party is. We want to say 'No' to them."

Simma Holt, former member of the Canadian House of Commons and a journalist of thirty-years, expressed her support by distributing fliers and calling on the public to support Falun Gong and help stop the persecution.

Practitioners practiced the exercises, explained the facts and distributed fliers. A Falun Gong spokesperson indicated that we would not stop protesting the persecution until it is over.

She said, "The persecution continues in China. The international community also has responsibility. Some countries think that China is a big market and want to get a share. However, their investment helps the CCP regime to conduct human rights persecution. If they knew that they are doing business with a murderer and perpetrator of crimes against humanity, they would rethink their business dealings."

"Though we have conducted efforts to end the persecution for eight years, some people still don't know the facts. We are here to let them know the facts. Their conscience should lead them to think over how to do business with the CCP. We don't want people to stop doing business with China. But we hope that people will help stop the persecution."

Ms. Zhang, seventy-five years old, experienced terrible persecution for six years in China and came to Canada last year. She said, "The CCP did not leave me alone even though I am old. I was forced to attend brainwashing sessions. I was followed when I went out. To avoid the persecution, I had to move often. The atmosphere of terror is hard to imagine for those who have never experienced it."

Ms. Zhang said, "A fellow practitioner in my hometown was arrested several times and badly beaten. His family members visited him and cried upon seeing him. His legs were bruised. In winter he was forced to stand outside in the snow. When he was released, police pushed him down from the third floor as soon as he arrived home. He died on the spot."

"A family of four was tortured for rescuing fellow practitioners. Police inserted pins into each of their finger tips, making their fingers bleed. Police even electroshock men's genitals and inject healthy people with mind-altering drugs."

When talking about fellow practitioners being persecuted in China, Ms. Zhang had tears in her eyes, "Two fellow practitioners are missing and no one knows their whereabouts. One is the assistant of our practice site and the other is a practitioner whom Zhu Rongji met during the appeal on April 25, 1999."

Practitioners in Vancouver believe that practitioners outside China must continue clarifying the truth, protesting the persecution and inspiring people's kind thoughts. Our peaceful activities help relieve the pressure on fellow practitioners in China. Only exposing the CCP's crimes can lead to an end of the persecution.