(Minghui.org) On the second day following the conclusion of Canada's thirteenth Fa conference, on August 26, 2012, more than 1,000 Falun Gong practitioners from across Canada and several cities of the U.S. held a large-scale group practice at Queens Park in Toronto. They also held a rally in front of the Ontario Parliament and marched in downtown Toronto to celebrate Falun Gong's benefit to people's physical and mental well being, and raise awareness about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 13-year persecution of Falun Gong. Several politicians came in person to show support at the rally. They praised the wonderfulness of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Practitioners do the Falun Gong exercises in a large group at Queens Park in Toronto on August 26, 2012
Practitioners rally in front of the Ontario Parliament
Glen Murray expresses support at the rally for Falun Gong's efforts to end the persecution
Practitioners and people march in downtown Toronto on August 26, 2012
The Best Way to Fight Against the Persecution---Expose It In Society
Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, was pleased and encouraged to see so many people at the rally. He said, “What we are doing here today, you can not do in China. As a matter of fact, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech are denied to folks there.”
“Practicing Falun Dafa in China, one can have horrible personal consequences- loss of your life, torture, and threats.” He said, “The very principles of Falun Dafa, of truthfulness, of compassion, of tolerance, are the very undertakings that Canada is about.” “We have responsibility to stand by each other here in Canada or around the world, against persecution and oppression.”
He said that the best way to fight against the persecution was to do what the practitioners are doing today, and to be voices for those who are silenced.
We Will Soon See Freedom in China
Lawyer Mostyn condemns the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong
Michael Mostyn, once candidate for Canadian MP, and famous lawyer said, “We must all always not remain in silence. But raise our voices whenever we see persecutions, as we do in China today.”
“Here we have today free Canadians standing up for tolerance, truth, compassion, and fighting against persecution, against human rights abuses—terrible human rights abuses that are currently taking place in China.” He said, “The more people that know, the more allies you will have known, and a lot of very good people that are willing to work shoulder to shoulder with you in your struggle, until we all have freedom.”
Mr. Morstyn believed that we will soon see freedom in China, because the authoritarian regime “can not stand up against truth and kindness that is in every human heart.”
No One Can Kill the Dream
Majed El Shafie, president and founder of One Free World International
Majed El Shafie, president and founder of One Free World International, said that the Chinese Communist Party tried to eliminate Falun Gong, but “Here we are assembling in Queens Park in Canada, strong and united. They lose, and we win.”
“The teaching of Master Li, the principle of Falun Gong, standing, love, tolerance, truth, this is the principle that wins. No matter how strong the Chinese army is, no matter how many weapons they have, you are much stronger than them, your weapon is a much stronger weapon.”
He said, “Chinese people is the people of tradition, of respect and generosity, and their culture is wonderful culture, but the communist regime takes away all the goodness from your heart.” “We love Chinese people, we love China, we conflict with the Chinese regime, with the communist regime.”
Shafie finally said, “Our enemy has very strong army and weapons, but we have our belief. They can always kill the dreamer, but no one can kill the dream.”
CCP Is One of the Worst Human Rights Offenders in the World
Chantal Desloges, immigration and refugee lawyer in Canada
Chantal Desloges, immigration and refugee lawyer in Canada said that after she had heard countless stories about human rights abuses from her clients, one of the things she realized is that “China is one of the worst human rights offenders in the world.”
She said that she often sees many victims of human rights abuses in their own countries and when they get to Canada, “they just want everyone to leave them alone. They want to forget about the problems that they had back home, they don't want to be involved in any more, and don't want to come to the demonstration. They are worried about their family back home and they just want to be left in peace.”
“You are one of the very courageous people that just keep standing up for what you believe, and I admire that so much about you.”
“It's too cruel, It should be stopped”
Mr. Li came to Toronto last year from Jilin Province. He was one of the audience members at the rally. He said, “I couldn't see such a large scale rally and march in China, but today I see it. The information blockade in China is tight. It was hard to learn about the persecution, but now I learn it. I feel the CCP is really too cruel. Such a group of good people, what's wrong with them? Why kill them? Falun Gong's master is really great to promote such a wonderful thing in the world.”
“Falun Gong is wonderful, you're number one!”
When the parade procession marched to Chinatown, a man in the crowd of spectators acclaimed, “Falun Gong is wonderful, you're number one!” This man is surnamed Lu, who came to Toronto several months ago from Hebei Province in China. It was the first time he saw such a spectacular march. He said, “It's pity that such a wonderful thing is being persecuted in China. The persecution should have been stopped.”
Righteous Support from Westerners
Martida Nicrosi from South America supports Falun Gong wholeheartedly
Stephen from Arizona said he will help Falun Gong fight against the persecution
Licialynn Gordon from northern Canada holds that the persecution should end immediately
Martida Nicrosi from South America applauded the parade procession, and kept saying, “I support you!” She said, “I know Falun Gong practitioners are kind. Some practitioners who live in the same apartment building as I do often helped me. When I learned that such a group of good people is being persecuted, I felt it was unfair to them. One should have freedom. I support them from the bottom of my heart.” She held a flyer and said, “After I learn the practice, I can march together with them.”
Stephen, a tourist from Arizona said, “Not until I watched the march and read the informational materials did I know that such a wonderful thing is being persecuted in China, and it has lasted for 13 years.” He asked how he could help them. He learned that he can find out more information online and tell all those who he has known the facts about Falun Gong, and call for an end to the persecution. He can help them, and he nodded his head and said, “I will definitely do it!”
Licialynn Gordon from northern Canada said that she had learned about the persecution of Falun Gong from some media coverage. She said, “...but in Canada, Falun Gong is free. Their march today is exhilarating, I feel very comfortable. The persecution should end immediately.”
Dafa Solves Puzzles, Cultivation Positively Changes One's Life
Michael Lewis (first on the left), his daughter, and his friend Kacey Cox (first on the right) in front of a float
Mr. Lewis found Falun Dafa when he browsed the Internet one day in 2010. He downloaded the video lecture of Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of Falun Gong, and finished watching it within two days.
He said that he had been studying things related to the cosmos, but nothing was quite clear. After he listened to Master's Fa teaching, he connected all the things that he had learned before. More importantly, he is clearly aware what people live for.
Mr. Lewis immediately called his friend Mr. Cox, and told him to watch Master's Li's video lecture. “It's what we have been looking for.”
Mr. Lewis's life began to change after he practiced Falun Gong. He used to smoke and drink alcohol heavily, and he even smoked marijuana with his friends. He quit all of them immediately after he began studying the Fa and realized these addictions were bad.
People Who Are Aware of the Truth Learn to Practice Falun Gong
Mr. Chen immigrated from Guangzhou City two years ago and supports Falun Gong. He said when he was in China, he coughed severely. A neighbor taught him to do the Falun Gong exercises, and it turned out to be great, but he didn't know that what he learned was Falun Gong. After he came abroad, he had an opportunity to truly learn about Falun Gong, and also became aware of the CCP's persecution. He chose to quit the CCP's Youth League organization.
Mr. Chen has bought a copy of Zhuan Falun, and begun doing the exercises in a park.
“I'm really fortunate”
Ms. Chen, another immigrant to Canada said that she came abroad last year. “As soon as I came, I met Falun Gong practitioners who spoke with me about Falun Gong. Through my contacts with them, I know they are kind people. So I began reading Falun Gong books. I feel I'm really fortunate. I hadn't known there is such a wonderful Dafa when I was in China for so many years, but I obtained it once I came here.”
