(Minghui.org) On May 11, 2012, more than 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners from around the world gathered on the square in front of the United Nations in New York City to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa.

Practitioners lined up on the square at 9:00 a.m. and did the five Falun Gong exercises. Mr. Wenxi Wu of the European Falun Dafa Association and more than 500 practitioners from Europe participated in the event. Mr. Wu said, “Since 1994, more and more people in Europe have started to practice Falun Gong. Thirty-three countries in Europe have set up Falun Dafa Associations, and Falun Dafa's main text, Zhuan Falun, has been translated into more than twenty European languages. There are Falun Dafa practitioners in many small countries. This time more than 500 practitioners came here to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction and wish Master happy birthday.”

Falun Gong practitioners have group practice on the square in front of the UN in New York

Sending righteous thoughts on the square in front of the United Nations

Falun Gong practitioners celebrate Falun Dafa's 20^th anniversary

Mr. Wu said that he and others came to participate in the celebration to let more people know the facts about Falun Dafa. He expressed wishes that the international community would support Falun Dafa and help stop the ongoing persecution in China.

The Chinese regime has slandered Falun Dafa since 1999, but in Western countries, many people have taken up the practice. Jane Gray from London plays in the Divine Land Marching Band, and works in marketing at home. She said it was the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong that caught the attention of her and her family. She and her mother started practicing Falun Gong ten years ago. She said she is renewed every time she does the fifth, meditation exercise.

Adryahn Hawkins came to New York from Romania thirty years ago. He was seeking a true belief but found that many religious groups were not practicing true cultivation. Nine years after he stopped searching, he ran into Falun Dafa. He admired the free teaching of Falun Dafa, and that practitioners were cultivating while not seeking fame and personal interest. What helped convince him was that Master Li never boasts about himself. Adryahn and his mother have practiced Falun Gong for more than three years.

The Divine Land Marching band performed “Falun Dafa Is Great” and “Master, Thank You” to begin the celebration at 1:00 p.m. Many practitioners stepped up to the stage to express their appreciation with songs, musical performances, and dance. Lion dancing, dragon dancing, waist drums, and martial arts were performed.

Many passersby paused to watch. Ms. Cristina Hoyos works in the Africa Development Bank. The performances caught her attention and she watched the show attentively. After finding out that Falun Dafa practitioners are being persecuted in China, she was shocked. She said the celebration was great and that everyone should have freedom of belief. She said she would tell her friends what she saw today.

Falun Gong practitioners at the rally also exposed the CCP’s 13-year-long persecution of Falun Gong and called for efforts to help stop it.

Falun Gong spokesperson Erping Zhang said that everyone should stand up to condemn and help stop the inhumane persecution. “Because the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are universal values, the persecution of Falun Dafa is actually a persecution of the entire human race. All the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”

On May 12, more than 7000 Falun Gong practitioners from around the world will hold a grand event to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction and the 13^th World Falun Dafa Day, and to wish revered Master a happy birthday.

Background:

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body. The practice involves slow, gentle movements and meditation. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice, and free of charge. Its principles are based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice began in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Its beneficial effects in uplifting an individual’s physical health, spiritual well-being and moral character, not to mention its positive influence in the community and society as a whole, have been undeniable. In fact, Falun Gong is practiced by over 100 million people in more than 100 countries. The main works of Falun Gong are available in over 30 languages.

On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Since the start of the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world have been constantly speaking out about the truth of Falun Gong and exposing the CCP's crimes in a tireless effort to end the persecution.