(Clearwisdom.net)
The California State Fair is three weeks in duration. This year was the 152nd fair, held in Sacramento, California's capital. It concluded on September 5, 2005, Labor Day. During the fair, Falun Gong practitioners displayed truth-clarifying photos and materials at the Falun Gong booth, which was set up in the "free speech" region outside the front gate. Practitioners also demonstrated Falun Gong exercises and spread the message of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" to more people. They especially called to rescue children who have been orphaned in the persecution of Falun Gong.
  Exercise demonstration |
  Different kinds of truth-clarifying materials and photos were displayed at the booth |
  Different kinds of truth-clarifying materials and photos were displayed at the booth |
Each year, the grand California state fair, including trade and commercial activities as well as entertainment, attracts nearly one million people from the local and surrounding areas. Local Falun Gong practitioners have obtained approval to set up a display booth in the "free speech" zone each year since 2000. The "free speech" zone was especially arranged by the state fair and it is free of charge. The objective is to allow people to freely express their opinions and ideas.
Throughout each weekend of the fair over the past six years, the beauty of Falun Dafa, which originated in ancient China, and the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China were spread out from here. From the introduction of Falun Dafa in China to the worldwide spread of the practice, from the persecution of Falun Gong in China to support from all over the world, from the rescue of American citizen Charles Li to the rescue of orphans of Falun Gong practitioners, from the multiple lawsuits against the man who started the persecution, Jiang Zemin, to more than 4 million people quitting the evil Chinese Communist Party, people have had the chance to learn the facts at this fair.
After listening to the facts about Dafa, people's confusion gradually disappeared. More people expressed that they've heard of Falun Gong and that they were aware of the persecution. Standing in front of the booth, you would often hear, "Oh, I've read about it (reports on Falun Gong) in some magazines", "I took your material already, thank you!" "Was the American citizen (Charles Li) released?"
  Carefully viewing photos depicting the worldwide spread of Falun Dafa |
  Learning the truth about Falun Dafa |
  Distributing truth-clarifying materials |
"Thank you for coming here again to call for attention to this issue!"
"Good job!"
"I've signed the petition before!"
"I'll pray for you!"
"Do you still practice at that park? I want to learn the exercises!"
"I have practiced the exercises but I cannot sit in full lotus position."
As soon as she saw the English Falun Dafa banner a lady immediately took out a piece of paper and asked a practitioner to take a look. She asked the practitioner whether what she had was related to our Falun Dafa. The practitioner found that the piece of paper had related information about Dafa. The lady said that she met a practitioner who introduced Dafa to her. She was excited and happily surprised.
A visitor hurriedly passed by and read out, "Falun Gong." Others with him also immediately said, "Dafa! Falun Gong!"
When practitioners practiced the Falun Gong exercises beside the booth, innocent children were most likely to be attracted. They would ask their parents, "Are they real?" A 7-or-8-year-old girl watched for a while. Before she left, she walked closer to a practitioner who was practicing the exercises and said, "You look so great!" Such a lucky child. We hope this peaceful scene will remain in your childhood memory. Please remember, "Falun Dafa is great!"
A family came to visit the state fair. Upon seeing practitioners practicing the exercises, the father borrowed a mat from a practitioner and wanted to do the meditation. However, no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to sit in full lotus position. His trying also aroused the interest of his son and daughter who stood by his side. The young mother could not help smiling. The children's innocence also moved passersby. In fact, several eye-catching photos depicting young children practicing Falun Gong exercises were displayed besides them at the time. Those young children were so lovely. Unfortunately, at present, one can only see this kind of scene outside China.
The music, "Pudu" and "Jishi," that were composed by Dafa practitioners, resounded and purified people's hearts. Interestingly, when a practitioner turned on the music, he asked a tourist whether the volume was too high. The tourist immediately responded, "Not at all!" He pointed towards another booth where there were people singing and playing musical instruments and said, "They are truly noisy!" A young child said from nearby, "Such beautiful music." The child did not want to leave. A practitioner gave him a music CD. His father asked whether he could play it in his car and persuaded his son, "We can listen in the car okay?" At this point, the little boy agreed to leave. There were quite a few stories like this.
During the entire activity, under Master's protection and practitioners' righteous thoughts, everything went quite smoothly. There was almost no interference. In the end of August, it was still very hot in Sacramento. Practitioners who stood under the scorching sun felt cool thanks to the purity of their hearts.
Upon seeing the photos which show how practitioners were cruelly tortured, an American boy who was nearly ten year old was astonished and blurted out, "Persecution!" Yes, it is persecution! The most ruthless and evil persecution in human history is still happening and is being covered up by lies.
Year after year, as long as the persecution continues, we'll come here again.
