(Minghui.org) “I know about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. One of my colleagues joined Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), so I've heard about it,” said Dr. Gerald Mathews, a psychiatrist in Geelong, Australia. On New Year's eve, Dr. Mathews signed a petition condemning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s forced live organ harvesting atrocities. He said he, too, wanted to join DAFOH.
He was among nearly 500,000 people who came out to watch the fireworks in downtown Melbourne.
Dr. Gerald Mathews signs the petition condemning forced organ harvesting
During the festivities, Falun Gong practitioners set up a display on Melbourne's City Square. They demonstrated the exercises and distributed information about Falun Gong and the persecution.
Several tourists from China and local Chinese residents who stopped by the display condemned the persecution and decided to renounce their Communist Party memberships.
In three hours, volunteers Xiaomei and Ms. Lu helped more than 80 people quit the CCP and/or its youth organizations. Xiaomei said, “Some families quit together. Some agreed to quit after chatting a bit. Some said they left China to get away from the Party. Some were still deceived by the Party propaganda. But every time they talk to us or take our materials, they can get more information.”
Many tourists and local residents signed the petition protesting the persecution.
Nelly Duthic from France and Moeko Sugie from Japan stopped to learn more about Falun Gong.
Nelly Duthic from France and Moeko Sugie from Japan came to Australia to work temporary jobs during the holiday break. They stopped at the Falun Gong display to find out more and showed their support for ending the persecution.
Nicolas, 18, and his brother Jake stopped to view the display. Nicolas said, “Torture should be banned. No country should allow this to continue.” He said he would inform others about the persecution via social media.
High school students Adam Henrell and Brandon sign the petition.
High school students Adam Henrell and Brandon came to watch the fireworks. They signed the petition and said that their family had traveled to China and noticed that Chinese people had no freedom of expression. This was the first time they had ever heard about Falun Gong, and they said they hoped the persecution would end soon.
