(Minghui.org) On April 25, Falun Gong practitioners from Chicago held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese consulate, commemorating the April 25 Peaceful Appeal and condemning the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Candlelight vigil at the Chinese consulate in Chicago to commemorate the April 25 Peaceful Appeal

Several practitioners who had taken part in the original April 25 Appeal told their own story. Mr. Yang, who came to America in 2000, has taken part in many truth-clarifying activities in Chicago. “I often come to the Chinese consulate to clarify the truth of Falun Gong to the public. Many Americans have expressed their support. In the winter, they brought us hot coffee or warm clothes. We also clarify the truth to the Chinese people here.”

Mr. Wu, an America-born Chinese police officer, praised the Falun Gong practitioners. He has been working as a police office in this area for 11 years, and has seen a lot of practitioners' activities. “Theirs is the most peaceful protest I've seen,” he said. He is truly touched by practitioners' spirit. He feels sorry that many people in China have lost their traditional moral values. “The whole world needs truthfulness-compassion-forbearance,” he said.

Many people heard about Falun Gong through the April 25 Peaceful Appeal. Some of them took up the practice because of it. Mr. Lin, a government employee, said, “I heard about the appeal in 2004. In the beginning, I didn't think it was special. There are lots of protests in the U.S.A. I've been living here for 17 years, and have seen a lot. So, I thought that the April 25 Appeal was just like that. However, I was shocked when I learned what happened after the peaceful appeal. The Chinese Communist Party launched a brutal persecution. It is a crime. I was also touched by the practitioners' peaceful spirit. They truly demonstrate the essence of truthfulness-compassion-forbearance. Their spirit made me believe that the darkness will be over and everybody will know the truth soon.”

Mr. Yang Sen, chair of the Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association, said, “Thirteen years ago, Falun Gong practitioners had three requests for the government: 1) release those who were illegally arrested; 2) allow Falun Gong books to be published in China; and 3) allow a peaceful environment in which we can practice. Now, the persecution has been going on for 13 years. Our new requests are: bring Jiang Zemin and other murderers to justice, including the police who tortured practitioners in prisons, detention centers and labor camps; the doctors who have been involved in harvesting organs from practitioners; and compensating Falun Gong practitioners for their losses.”