(Clearwisdom.net) On May 15, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in the New York area took part in the annual grand Martin Luther King Parade.
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Martin Luther King was a famous civil rights leader. In 1950s to 1960s, he promoted the idea of striving for freedom, equity and dignity of all nationalities though nonviolent resistance.
This was the first time that Falun Gong practitioners applied for participation in this event, and they were warmly welcomed by sponsors. The Martin Luther King parade set off at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 61st Street and ended at 86th Street next to Central Park. The well-known Metropolitan Museum of Art is along the route. Continuous streams of people walked along the streets, and the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were crowded with tourists.
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During the parade, numerous people stopped to watch the procession. Falun Gong practitioners' procession received great attention. A great number of people took truth-clarifying materials, and took pictures or videotaped the parade. The Falun Gong procession was led by a huge banner that read in English and Chinese, "Falun Dafa." A banner reading "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" followed. The valiant waist drum troupe attracted all spectators' attention. Behind an English banner reading, "Falun Gong is good" was another English banner that read, "Falun Gong - Peaceful meditation ... persecuted in China."
The song, "Falun Dafa is Good" was played along the route with the waist drum troupe's performance. Intermittently, the waist drum troupe also demonstrated Falun Gong exercises. In particular, in front of the stand and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, practitioners' exercise demonstration received warm applause.
New Yorkers have become more and more familiar with Falun Gong, and understand and support Falun Gong.
