(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in the Midwest U.S. held a rally and a parade in Chicago on August 13, 2022. The parade in Chinatown celebrated 400 million people who have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist organizations. Practitioners held a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate, to peacefully protest the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution that has been ongoing for the past 23 years. Spectators, both Western and Chinese, praised practitioners’ persistent efforts.

Falun Dafa practitioners held a parade in Chicago’s Chinatown on Saturday, August 13. 

Mr. Kuang, an immigrant from China, said that he ran downstairs as soon as he heard the parade music, because he wanted to thank Falun Dafa practitioners for their anti-Internet-blockade software, which helped him learn the truth. “The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party is an epic work,” Mr. Kuang said. “It analyzed the idea of Communism from every aspect, including how it has destroyed and controlled the Chinese people!” He pointed out how the CCP controlled people’s thoughts about the pandemic. 

Mr. Kuang came to the parade to thank practitioners.

Mr. Qiu, another Chinese American, said that he watches the Falun Dafa parade every year. He gave practitioners a thumbs-up, saying, “The Communist Party doesn’t give people freedom.” 

Mr. Qiu gives practitioners a thumbs-up.

Mr. Zhang, a Chinese-American from Ohio, happened to be in Chicago on a business trip. While he watched the parade, he repeatedly said, “Falun Dafa is great! It’s all over the world! Do you know why? I think it’s great for health.” Pointing to the Western practitioners in the parade, Mr. Zhang said, “See? Americans also practice Falun Dafa.”

Holding an “End the CCP” flyer, David, a firefighter, told a practitioner, “I hope more people will join the effort to promote the campaign. The CCP is a gang. It has coerced the whole country and tried to destroy the world. If all people in our country could wake up, we are the only country that could end the CCP.”

Rally in front of the Chinese Consulate peacefully protests the CCP’s persecution.

Practitioners held a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate after the parade. They read aloud several support letters from elected officials in the Midwest U.S., condemning the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa, especially its atrocity of harvesting organs from living practitioners. 

Artist Angie Miller said she wants to learn more about Falun Dafa.

Angie Miller, an artist from Michigan, watched the speeches and read the display boards. She told a practitioner, “When I saw Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I started thinking about how to incorporate them into my artwork.” She said she wants to learn more about Falun Dafa.

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 who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.