(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners regularly participate in local community events to introduce the practice and to raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution. During these events, practitioners often demonstrate the exercises, talk to people about the persecution of Falun Gong, and collect signatures to help end the persecution in China.
The following are reports from events in Washington State and Northern California.
Washington State: Falun Gong Practitioners Participate in the Celebrate Woodinville Parade
Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate in the Celebrate Woodinville Parade on August 17, 2019, an area that is part of Greater Seattle.
The parade started at 11:00 a.m. with 10,000 people in attendance. Practitioners demonstrated the exercises on a beautifully decorated float. The waist drum team was greeted with warm applause.
Practitioners at the Celebrate Woodinville Parade on August 17, 2019
Several people stopped by the practitioners' booth after the parade to learn more about the practice. Christopher Burgess, the Executive Director of the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce, and the parade organizers praised the Falun Gong entry and said it was the best one in the parade.
People stopped by the practitioners' booth to learn more about Falun Gong.
A Boy Scout Leader said that he traveled to China to participate in a karate competition last fall, but that the event was blacklisted. This was a very shocking experience for him, and he said that he experienced the CCP's dictatorship. He believes that live organ harvesting is happening in China. He is Chinese, and after talking with a practitioner, he withdrew from the CCP.
A local Polish couple asked for more information. They said that they knew how evil the Communist Party was, but that faith brought the Polish people together. They said that when their daughters studied in graduate schools in Poland they noticed how the students from China had been brainwashed.
The couple said that when they traveled to Boston, they saw a Falun Gong practitioner holding a banner at a popular tourist attraction in the downtown area. A group of Chinese students was arguing with her. The couple joined their conversation and told the Chinese students that millions of people were persecuted to death under the rule of the Communist Party in Europe.
When the couple learned about the CCP’s live organ harvesting, they signed a petition which calls for an end to this atrocity.
Falun Gong Welcomed at Indian Festival in Northern California
Practitioners from Fremont and neighboring cities in Northern California participated in a local Indian festival on August 17-18, 2019. They were invited to demonstrate the exercises and give a waist drum performance on stage.
Several festival attendees followed practitioners' exercise movements when they demonstrated the exercises on stage.
Practitioners gave a waist drum performance.
When practitioners demonstrated the exercises on stage, several audience members followed along and did the exercises with them. They also gave a waist drum performance. Festival attendee Prabhakar said that the waist drums were beautiful.
Vivek Anand Oberoi (middle), an Indian movie star, has his photo taken with practitioners.
As soon as practitioners finished their demonstration, the Indian movie star and the festival guest Vivek Anand Oberoi asked to have a photo taken with practitioners. He said, “Falun Gong is very good and very beautiful. It conveys the message of peace and brings inner peace to people.”
Practitioners also had a booth at the event. Many people were interested in learning more about Falun Gong and signed up for the upcoming free workshops.
Falun Gong booth
Practitioners talk with visitors about the practice.
Two people learn the exercises during the festival.
People sign up for the free Falun Gong workshop
“I will definitely go to the Falun Gong workshop on Saturday,” said Nina, a laboratory test inspector. “I hope to learn more about the practice.”
She said that when she went on a business trip to Taiwan last month, she saw many Falun Gong practitioners practicing at Taipei Freedom Square. “They were very peaceful and looked very healthy. Their faces were serene. I also hope that I can be like them and reach that state.”
Sanjeev Bhardwaj, a manager of Internet TV station AB24, is very supportive of Falun Gong and has also broadcast an introductory film about Falun Gong on the TV station. He said, “Falun Gong is great. It was very exciting to see the practitioners' performances today.”
San Francisco lawyer Vishal said that Falun Gong is a good spiritual practice. He said, “I know that Falun Gong is persecuted in China. This is very sad and should not have happened. I'm very glad that you are here today to let everyone know the truth.”
Relevant article in Chinese: Northern California
