(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021, is the 22nd World Falun Dafa Day and the 29th anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa. Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston proclaimed May 13 “Falun Dafa Day” in the city.

Mayor Sylvester Turner of HoustonProclamation from Houston

The proclamation reads, “Falun Dafa was first introduced in 1992 and was later introduced to Houston in 1996. Since then, many free introductory workshops have been held in public places such as city libraries and public parks, and practitioners have participated in many community events. Falun Dafa practitioners’ determination and courage to stand up for truthfulness, compassion and forbearance while facing severe persecution from the Chinese Communist Party has shown the world the value of life and the beauty of human dignity.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the practice—which is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises—and experienced improved health and wellbeing.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang's personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Chinese version available

Category: Dafa Day Recognition