Toronto, Canada: Falun Dafa Practitioners Hold Activities to Peacefully Protest the 22-Year-Long Persecution

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners conducted a series of activities in downtown Toronto on July 15, 2021 to protest the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 22-year-long persecution. They held banners, clarified the truth, and collected signatures. In the evening they held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate to commemorate their fellow practitioners who died in the persecution. 

Passersby signed postcards to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the New Democratic Party, and Erin O'Toole, the leader of the Official Opposition and the leader of the Conservative Party. 

The postcards contained the following information: CCP officials have persecuted Falun Dafa for 22 years; The CCP is still harvesting practitioners' organs while they are alive; The US government has begun to sanction the CCP officials who persecuted practitioners; We urge the Canadian government to use the Magnitsky Act and other means to sanction the perpetrators, including banning them and their families from entering Canada, and freezing their assets in Canada.

Practitioners hold banners and clarify the truth in downtown Toronto on July 15.Signing postcards to Prime Minister Trudeau and other top officials

A man working in the Toronto government learns about Falun Dafa and the persecution. 

Government Employee: The CCP is Evil

Carlos Gonzales from Costa Rica

Carlos Gonzales from Costa Rica works for the Ontario Provincial Government. When he noticed the activities he stopped and said, “I really like Falun Dafa’s Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practitioners’ way of raising awareness is very good. I know what it says on the banner is true.”

He said, “Falun Dafa practitioners are very kind, but the CCP is very evil. The CCP conceals the facts and deceives the whole world. They persecute practitioners and harvest the organs from living practitioners for huge profits. This is simply too evil. It’s inhumane. It is impossible to imagine--just for their faith, practitioners are imprisoned and cruelly tortured.” 

He said at the end, “Falun Dafa is practiced widely, not only in North America, South America, and Central America, but throughout the world. The CCP can no longer conceal the persecution. Sooner or later, the world's people will wake up. The CCP will be held responsible for its evil deeds. It must be brought to justice.” 

Tourist: Practitioners Should Have Freedom of Belief

Fiona Pantaleon (in white, in the middle) from Alberta

Fiona Pantaleon from Alberta was visiting Toronto. She said, “I feel Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are wonderful.” 

When she learned that Falun Dafa is practiced in more than 100 countries and regions in the world while Falun Gong practitioners in China have been persecuted by the CCP for 22 years, she said, “All people in the world should have freedom of belief. The CCP’s persecution is horrific!”

Toronto Resident: It Is Time to End the CCP

Toronto residents Liam and his wife saw practitioners’ peaceful commemoration for the first time. A practitioner told Liam that such candlelight vigils had held in front of the Chinese consulate for 22 years. 

Liam said, “I've seen other groups protesting in front of the Chinese consulate. They were all very noisy, but for the first time I saw such a peaceful rally today. I do not understand why the CCP initiated the persecution. On the contrary, I think Falun Dafa is good.” After signing, both he and his wife indicated it was time to end the CCP.

Jimmy from Venezuela signed the postcard expressing his support for practitioners’ efforts against the persecution. He said, “This is the first time I've heard about the persecution. I think this is absolutely wrong. People should have freedom of belief. I hope this persecution will end as soon as possible.”

Jimmy from Venezuela

Chinese Passerby: The CCP’s Persecution Is Rampant

When a Chinese who lives in Toronto noticed the practitioners holding banners on the side of the road, he asked, “Why are so many practitioners here today?” When he learned that this was the 22nd anniversary of practitioners’ appeal to stop the persecution, he said, “The CCP is really evil. It can monitor everyone’s activities, even these Falun Dafa practitioners who are here every day. Their names are probably on the CCP's blacklist.”

He also said, “I know that the CCP has been persecuting Falun Dafa. Whoever has power in China can do whatever he wants. The CCP regime is just like that.” 

A Chinese lady named Carina signed the postcard to express her support. She told the practitioners that her mother was from Guangzhou, China. Her mom told her that the CCP controls everything and persecutes practitioners.

Candlelight Vigil

That evening practitioners held a candlelight vigil. It suddenly rained heavily. Drivers in passing vehicles honked their horns and gave practitioners a thumbs up in admiration. Many vehicles slowed down and read the display boards and banners. 

Candlelight vigil to commemorate fellow practitioners who died in the persecution.

A young woman listened to a practitioner’s introduction. She immediately sat cross-legged on the rain soaked ground and prayed for Falun Gong practitioners. At that moment, the rain became heavy. She was soaked. After the heavy rain passed, the girl said she felt very proud to join the practitioners.