(Clearwisdom.net) More than 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners held a grand parade in Manhattan Chinatown at noon on May 25, 2008. They celebrated the spread of Falun Gong to over 80 countries around the world, and held huge banners bearing messages condemning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for taking advantage of a tragedy like the Sichuan earthquake to intensify the persecution.

The parade was composed of three parts with the Divine Land Marching Band taking the lead. Practitioners handed out information about Falun Gong along the parade route. They also explained to people in the Chinese community about recent violent attacks in Flushing instigated behind the scenes by Chinese consular officials. Enthusiastic spectators welcomed the parade and many took pictures with their cell phones and cameras. Some Chinese, likely among those instigated by consular officials, shouted foul and abusive language, but the majority of Chinese expressed their understanding of Falun Gong practitioners' appeal for an end to the persecution. Many expressed their hope that the Chinese community should live in harmony and peace, and the Chinese Consulate should not incite hatred and split the community.

"Remember the Nazis, and make the best choice for China"

Professor Chu-Cheng Ming from the Department of Political Science of National Taiwan University said, "As a Falun Gong practitioner, I'm honored to participate in this parade. On my way here by subway, I wore clothing bearing the words, 'Falun Dafa is good'. Many Chinese people saw us and made negative comments. These people believe the CCP lies, thinking that Falun Gong 'does not love the country,' and 'brings discredit to the Chinese people.' The truth, of course, is completely different."

Prof. Ming said, "This reminds me of the rise of the Nazis in 1930, in countries including Germany, Finland, Austria, Sweden. People of German descent or ethnic German populations were overjoyed upon seeing the Nazis. If somebody said the Nazis were bad at the time, nobody believed it. Today when I walked around, I saw exactly the same situation with the Chinese communists."

He continued, "The pro-communist citizens who criticize Falun Gong have not seen clearly the group of people that Falun Gong represents. Falun Gong practitioners follow the principles of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.'" Those who are against Falun Gong have been overwhelmed by the heated nationalism that the CCP propagates, and are unable to objectively see what will benefit the future of the Chinese nation. Prof. Ming reiterated, "Remember the lesson of the Nazis, see clearly that history repeats itself. The Nazis appeared in Germany, but a similar history may be unfolding in China. I hope all Chinese around the world see clearly the CCP's nature, make a correct choice, and the best choice for China."

See hate propaganda for what it is

The CCP lies and slanders Falun Gong, alleging that Falun Gong does not help with disaster relief. They instigate Chinese people to hate Falun Gong, recently employing their henchmen to instigate crowds of hundreds of people to besiege the Flushing Service Center for Quitting the CCP. People were pushing, shoving and violently attacking Falun Gong practitioners. It was strongly reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution in China. Seeing all this, Ms. Li Ailing from Washington DC said, " I must come to New York to explain to the Chinese there the facts about Falun Gong. Many Falun Gong practitioners were very sad upon learning about the Sichuan earthquake. Falun Gong practitioners use their own ways to provide victims of the earthquake disaster with practical help."

She explained that, "The CCP takes advantage of a national disaster to once again smear Falun Gong. Many Chinese read newspapers controlled by the CCP. All reports there are against Falun Gong. Actually, the CCP is the source of disaster for Chinese people. The CCP did not report earthquake forecasts, nor did it warn citizens so that there would have been fewer casualties. Many school buildings collapsed, but few government departments' buildings collapsed in the earthquake. The CCP was reluctant to allow international relief support to enter. The CCP takes people for granted, and delayed efforts to save people. All of this can be seen by those willing to accept the truth. To save China, people must quit the evil CCP. "

Help more Chinese people learn the facts

A family rode to New York from Toronto, Canada by bus, a ten hour journey. The husband and wife handed out information about Falun Gong along the parade route. The husband said, "Chinese people who are wise and sober have learned the true situation of Falun Gong, but some Chinese in New York have been poisoned deeply by the CCP's brainwashing. We still have a difficult path to go, but we will make a persistent effort.

We will continue to expose the persecution until it ends

Mr. Li Deliang teaches at Tunghai University in Taiwan. He was in the parade, and said, "I have come to New York several times to participate in parades supporting withdrawals from the CCP. I spent my own money coming to New York from afar, I want to tell the kind people in New York about the preciousness of human rights. We tell people about the ongoing brutal persecution of Falun Gong. If the persecution does not stop, we will not stop our effort in exposing the persecution. "