(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Portland, Oregon gathered on May 12, 2013 in Waterfront Park in downtown Portland to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. They did the group exercises and set up display boards to introduce the wide dissemination of Falun Dafa around the world and to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Practitioners in Portland celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and wish revered Master Li a happy birthday

Group exercise practice

Teaching the Falun Gong exercises

Passersby view display boards

The peaceful exercise scene attracted the attention of many tourists. A western woman learned the exercises on the spot. When a couple who were tourists heard that they could find practice sites around the world, they were very happy and said that they would look online as soon as they got back home. One woman said that she hadn't heard about Falun Gong before, but after a practitioner's detailed explanation, she thanked the practitioner for telling her about the persecution that is currently occurring in China.

Many people stopped in front of the display boards to view the pictures and read the information. Dave, an American businessman, had a conversation with a practitioner after viewing the displays, and asked a lot of questions about the practice. After learning that Falun Gong practitioners in China have been subjected to torture and even forced organ harvesting for remaining steadfast in their belief, he shook his head and sighed. He said that he hoped to have an opportunity to learn the practice and left his name card so that the practitioner would tell him the location of a practice site near his area. He then decided to stay for quite some time to help introduce Falun Gong to passersby.

Many passersby were shocked at the Chinese regime's atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners for profit. Some said that it is unimaginable that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is targeting such peaceful practitioners. A gentleman told a practitioner that he felt sad for the Chinese people to have such a heinous thing taking place in China. He said he will definitely sign the online petition calling for an end to the persecution.

On this special occasion when the world is celebrating World Falun Dafa Day, more people have learned the truth. All practitioners in Portland respectfully wish compassionate, magnificent and venerable Master Li a happy birthday!