(Clearwisdom.net) (Minghui/Clearwisdom correspondent Chen Xinning) At 10 a.m. on April 28, 2007, over two hundred people gathered in Roma St Forum in downtown Brisbane, Australia to support twenty-one million Chinese people who have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. People from all walks of life in Queensland attended the rally and called on more Chinese people to quit the CCP. After the rally, the people held a march from downtown to Chinatown, and later went to south Brisbane to construct a "great wall of courage".
Andrew Bartlett |
Ken Francis |
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The theme of the rally and parade was "The root of the evil CCP has disintegrated. Why are you waiting?" The event was hosted by Free China Association, Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP and the Epoch Times. A Senator of Queensland, a former Taiwan councilor on national policy, and representatives from the National Civic Council, Vietnamese Community, Free China Association, and Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP gave speeches at the rally. Mr. John Andres, representative of Queensland Falun Dafa Association, and Ms. Shar Adam, from the Epoch Times attended the event.
Mr. Li from Free China Association said, "When one million Chinese quit the CCP, we held a rally here. We needed to explain a lot to people because they did not know what is happening in China. Today twenty-one million people have quit CCP and its affiliates. I don't need say much, because the number can say it all. Today, we are happy for those who quit the CCP, and worry for those who have not quit--those who have been brainwashed by the CCP since they were young and are not able to think for themselves. So they hesitate even now. Chinese friends, choose to quit CCP and have a good future. The CCP is just like a sinking boat and all who cling to it will sink together. Today you still have the opportunity to choose and move forward one step, to be free and saved. Please quit the CCP as soon as possible."
Ms. Lin from the Global Service Center said that the tide of quitting the CCP indicates the nation is awakening. From various channels, many banners of quitting the CCP have appeared in China. The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party have spread quickly. The phone calls to the service center are continuous. She encouraged everyone to continue promoting the tide of quitting the CCP.
Senator Andrew Bartlett of Queensland said that he thought the Australian people should pay attention to the persecution in China and the CCP's unfair treatment of Falun Gong practitioners and human rights activists. Let them know that overseas people support them. It is important to support them by all means.
Mr. Ken Francis, representing the National Civic Council, called on the CCP to immediately stop killing and violating human rights. He said the twenty-one million withdrawals from the CCP meant the CCP regime is disintegrating. He expressed his support of Falun Gong and believed that the persecution will end soon. Human rights will prevail. He pointed out that no one in China believes in Marxism and the current regime just uses it to control people for its own benefit. He urged all participants to continue their efforts until the CCP collapses.
Mr. Duc represented the Vietnamese Community and talked about the Vietnamese people's suffering at the hands of the communist party. He pointed out, "The Communist Party forces people not to speak out using lies and deception." He encouraged everyone to stand up for human rights and freedom. He participated in the rally of two million withdrawals from the CCP. He said, "In the last rally, I thought that there would be ten million quitting the CCP. Today there are twenty-one million quitting. I believe that the CCP will collapse soon."
Mr. Chiu Chui-liang, a professor at Queensland University and former councilor of Taiwan national policy, said that the CCP is disintegrating. One main purpose for his participation in the rally was to congratulate and bless everyone. He called on all circles to unite and support the Chinese people to have human rights and freedom.
Ms. Grace from China used to be a leader of the Communist Young Pioneers and a secretary of the Communist Youth League. After reading the Nine Commentaries, she enlightened that she was almost sacrificed for the CCP. She renounced the CCP and its affiliates on the website of the Epoch Times in 2005. She called on Chinese people to awaken and quit the CCP.
Mr. Yang Xiaogeng in China announced his withdrawal from the CCP through an internet phone connection at the rally. He said, "After reading the Nine Commentaries, I enlightened that I was deceived for ten years. We want to renounce the evil party."
The host received many support letters. Mr. Peter Arndt of Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission and Dr. Noel Preston of The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong wrote letters to express their apology for not being able to attend the rally and their support for the Chinese people quitting the CCP.
The Divine Land Marching Band and Heavenly Chorus of Sydney performed for the event. The band played the music "Falun Dafa is good", "Fa rectifies the Universe" and "Drums and Trumpets Shake the World in Ten Directions". The Chorus sang two songs: "Tides after Tides of Quitting CCP" and "The World Needs Truth-Compassion-Tolerance", which touched many people's hearts.
A university student, Ms. Chen, brought her self-made poster that said, "No more human rights atrocities" and listened to the speeches quietly. She said in an interview, "The CCP has committed many atrocities in human rights. This must be changed. Under this regime, people suffer a lot." She suggested that everyone write to the government about the situation.
In the parade, passers-by were attracted by the large procession, including reenactment of the CCP's torture methods, the performance of the Divine Land Marching Band and waist drum team, and banners exposing the CCP's atrocities. Many stopped to watch, inquire for more information, and take photos or video footage.
Two ladies from Shanghai studying in Australia surprisingly asked a practitioner, "What has happened?" After learning the facts, they asked the practitioner to help them announce their withdrawals from the CCP.
After the parade, the participants went to South Brisbane and set up a great wall of courage with banners. Many people in vehicles passing by either rolled down their window and gave thumbs up or honked their horns to express their support.
The event concluded at 3 p.m.