Washington D.C.: Falun Gong Practitioners March to End Persecution (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) The persecution against Falun Gong has been going on for nine years-- since July 20, 1999. On July 18, 2008, Falun Gong practitioners held a march against the persecution, which started from the Washington Monument at 2:00 p.m., proceeded along Constitution Ave., 14th St. and ended at Farragut Square.

Two thousand Falun Gong practitioners from all over the world took part in the march. The Divine Land Marching Band, consisting of two hundred Falun Gong practitioners, led the marchers with the song, "Falun Dafa is good." Following the band, there were practitioners demonstrating the exercises and large models of the book Zhuan Falun in different languages.

In the team of "Calling for the end of persecution", practitioners displayed many banners and boards, which exposed the brutality of the torture and organ harvesting taking place in China. They also displayed Falun Gong practitioners' courage and spirit.

The team of "Supporting 40 million Chinese withdrawals from the Communist Party", displayed a large model of the book Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, which attracted many people. This book reveals the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and has helped 40 million Chinese quit the party. There was also a team telling people, "The World needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and a waist drum team in the march.

The march displayed Falun Gong practitioners' nine-year long anti-persecution journey. Many local people and tourists watched the parade. One lady said to this reporter: "It was great. The music was awesome." Many people were touched by the parade and accepted the truth-clarifying materials.

Mr. Li Xixing from Korea attended the parade. He said it was the reason that he came all the way to Washington D.C. He said: "I came here for the parade calling for the end of the persecution and letting more people know the truth about Falun Gong." "I am a doctor. I have told my colleagues about the organ harvesting. They are shocked. They support my trip to the U.S. for these activities against the persecution. They admire Falun Gong practitioners. The persecution against 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' is not only the persecution of Falun Gong, but also the persecution against a standard of morality. It damages universal human values. It is against humanity," Mr. Li said. Mr. Li has been practicing Falun Gong for seven years. He talked about his experiences practicing Falun Gong and how much he has benefited from it.

Mr. Chang Qingxi, the chair of the Falun Dafa Association in Taiwan, compared the different treatment that Falun Gong practitioners receive in Taiwan and Mainland China. He said: "Falun Gong practitioners have the freedom of belief in Taiwan. They hold all kinds of workshops. The Taiwanese government also helps them to promote Falun Gong. Students can get credits from learning Falun Gong exercises. There are more than one thousand exercise sites in Taiwan. You can see people practicing it in every park."

Three ladies from Europe talked about their experiences of practicing Falun Gong. Mrs. Roivuluoita from Sweden said: "I started practicing Falun Gong in 1997. When the persecution started in 1999, I was not affected by the slanders. I have benefited a lot from Falun Gong. Its principles changed my life." Keinonen from Finland and Suontkkanen from Sweden, who have practiced Falun Gong for nine and eight years respectively, also have had similar experiences.

In the last nine years, the brutal persecution did not make Falun Gong practitioners give in. They have followed the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and spread Falun Gong in more than 80 countries. The evil nature of the CCP has been exposed to people around the world. Many people of justice in China and around the world have stepped forward to condemn the persecution. Jiang Zemin and his followers have been sued in many countries, while the trend of quitting the party portend the end of the CCP.