(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners around the world held events in May 2023 to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, to the public. Some people from China said that it was the first time they had seen so many practitioners and that Falun Dafa brought them hope. They thanked the founder, Master Li, for bringing people a bright future.

Practitioners held a grand parade on May 12, 2023, in Manhattan to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.

Practitioners celebrate the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the world on May 6, 2023, in San Francisco.

Practitioners in Australia had a parade in downtown Sydney on May 9, 2023.

Practitioners in Toronto held an event to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day at City Hall on May 6, 2023.

Practitioners in South Korea celebrate World Falun Dafa Day with a group practice in front of Seoul City Hall on May 8, 2023.

Practitioners held a grand parade on May 12, 2023, in Manhattan to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.

High School Teacher Wishes Master Li a Happy Birthday

Zhai Deyun was a high school teacher in China. He came to the U.S. last November and saw practitioners’ parade in Times Square on May 12, 2023.

He said, “Although I am not a practitioner, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Master Li a happy birthday! Master Li, thank you for introducing Falun Gong to the world.”

Pointing to the parade, Zhai Deyun said, “Look at these Chinese people who can enjoy this freedom in the United States without fear. Just now I saw a few children in the parade, wearing ancient Chinese costumes. I was moved by this, hoping that Chinese culture can be promoted in the world, thanks to the efforts of Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong is promoting real Chinese civilization, which is the pride of Chinese people. This parade also showed us that the Chinese Communist Party, no matter how evil it is, cannot resist the power of justice, and the parade is the best proof of that.”

Basketball Coach: Mr. Li Teaches the World’s People Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

Practitioners in Auckland, New Zealand, gathered in Elizabeth Square in the city center to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2023.

Rocky Zhang is a New Zealand Chinese and a basketball coach. “First of all, I would like to wish Mr. Li Hongzhi a happy birthday! Mr. Li founded Falun Gong, which teaches the people of the world Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. His realm is very high,” he said.

“I liked history very much when I was young,” Zhang said. “But history has been distorted by (the CCP). I found that the leaders were full of lies. Everything is covered up by the CCP, including the suppression of Falun Gong. At the beginning, the overwhelming propaganda of the ‘self-immolation’ brainwashed the whole society. At that time, the mother of my elementary school classmate was a practitioner. After she started practicing Falun Gong, she became a better person. But she was arrested by the CCP. Why should a good person be arrested?”

He expected Falun Gong practitioners to “continue to spread Falun Gong. The world will be better, and we will see a brighter future.”

Mr. Liang: I Want to Be a Practitioner

On May 12, Mr. Liang, who had just arrived in the United States a few months before, came to the parade in New York to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. He said, “It is my wish to participate in the Falun Dafa parade. This is something I have longed for. I want to practice Falun Dafa very much, I’ve bought the book and I want to become a practitioner. Not only do I want to learn about Falun Dafa, I want to be one of them because I feel that Falun Dafa speaks the truth. I see an uplifting spirit in practitioners, and I want to attend their event.”

Chinese Who Fled China: Falun Dafa’s Principles Are Correct

Hao Jianping fled China and came to the U.S. two months ago after traveling through nine countries. Despite the dangerous journey, he said it was all worth it to leave the CCP’s control.

Hao said the media in China is controlled by the regime, and people cannot see the truth. He only knew the facts about the persecution after circumventing the Internet censorship.

He was happy to see practitioners’ activities held on May 6, 2023, in San Francisco to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.

He said he knew about Falun Dafa when he was in China, “I sympathized with practitioners. I agree with freedom of belief. Falun Dafa’s principles are correct but the CCP launched its persecution of Falun Dafa and even takes their organs—these are acts against humanity.”

A Former CCP Follower Walked the Entire Parade

High school student Chen Zhengmin came to the U.S. from Nanjing two years ago.

He said from his earliest childhood he was brainwashed by the CCP’s education and used to be a CCP follower. He had misunderstandings about Falun Dafa. A few years ago, he learned to circumvent the Internet censorship and found that everything the CCP told him was lies.

Chen Zhengmin said, “I had the opportunity to meet Falun Dafa practitioners after coming to America. They are completely the opposite of the CCP’s propaganda. They are a group of kind people, and well educated, too. They have outstanding achievements in different fields. This made me further realize that everything the CCP said is lies and the Party cannot be trusted.”

Practitioners held a parade to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day in San Francisco on May 6, 2023. He attended the activities. He held a flag with the words “Heaven Will Disintegrate the CCP” and walked the entire parade.

Chinese Man Fled the CCP: Falun Dafa Brings Us Hope

Gao Zhibin came to the U.S. a month ago. He left Beijing and went to South America, and then risked his life walking long distances before arriving in the U.S.

He said, “In the past, I thought everything the CCP said was right. A Falun Dafa practitioner told me how to break through the Internet censorship and visit overseas websites. I read a lot of information and realized that everything the CCP said was lies. They have been deceiving people for 70 years. In China, Falun Dafa is demonized by the CCP. Practitioners face persecution if they don’t give up their faith.”

He said practitioners in China are kind and remarkable in explaining the facts to people. “Practitioners in China distribute many fliers. Through these materials and visiting overseas websites, I learned about the CCP’s crimes of forced organ harvesting. Such crimes are inconceivable. You don’t realize how evil the CCP is. There is no limit to what they are willing to do.”

Mr. Gao held a placard with the words “Falun Dafa Is Good” and joined practitioners in the parade in San Francisco on May 6, 2023. He said he was glad to see so many practitioners overseas. “Recently, I saw Falun Dafa practitioners outside the San Francisco City Hall building. So many people practice Falun Dafa outside China and I am glad to see this. Falun Dafa gives hope to all of us. I hope practitioners can spread the word to all parts of the world and let people know what is happening in China.”