(Clearwisdom.net) On July 20, 2011, at the Chinese Consulate in Munich, Falun Gong practitioners from the German state of Bavaria protested the 12-year persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist regime. It was windy and rainy, but as on many occasions over the past 12 years, practitioners were not moved, standing silently to expose the atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist regime against Falun Gong. Many passersby and German people on their way to the Consulate on business wanted to learn the truth about the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong. When they did, without hesitation they signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body. Its principles are based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice was first introduced by Master Li Hongzhi in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Its beneficial effects in uplifting an individual's physical health, spiritual well-being, and moral character, not to mention its positive influence in the community and society as a whole, have been undeniable.

But to the Chinese Communist regime, which relies on lies and violences to maintain its grip on power, hundreds of millions of people wanting to be truthful and kind posed a threat. As a result, on July 20 twelve years ago, the CCP initiated, using all its state machinery, a nationwide, systematic persecution campaign against Falun Gong. The regime used all kinds of ancient and modern torture methods against Falun Gong practitioners who cultivate Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. For a time, lies, slander, and defamation blanketed the nation. The regime used intense pressure, forced labor camps, and brutal torture to try to crush practitioners mentally and physically. Countless families were destroyed. Countless practitioners suffered persecution, and some of them died as a result. According to a third-party independent investigation by the international community, just organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners alone has led to at least tens of thousands of deaths.

From that moment, in the face of the communist regime's brutal atrocities, Falun Gong practitioners, with greater compassion and tolerance, started a peaceful, rational, and steadfast counter-persecution campaign in China and abroad. For 12 years, they have persevered in their non-violent protest, continuing to expose the truth of the regime's persecution of Falun Gong in their communities and to the general public, helping people to see through the regime's lies. More and more people around the world have learned the truth. Falun Gong has also gained moral support from more and more people. Having seen the true face of the Communist regime, people have started thinking about how to help Falun Gong practitioners and together to stop this brutal persecution, ending this terrible chapter in human history.

A man on his way into the Consulate for business said, “In a dictatorial society, this kind of thing happens.” Several Christians said, “God bless Falun Gong practitioners.”

A lady who lives nearby and often sees Falun Gong practitioners protesting at the Consulate came to sign the petition. She said that she already knew about the persecution of Falun Gong. After signing the petition, she asked practitioners if there were any other ways to help. When practitioners told her she could tell the truth to her friends and families, she said she had already done so.

Falun Gong practitioners from the state of Bavaria have been protesting at the Chinese Consulate for 12 years. They said that they hoped they wouldn't need to protest next year. They hope the persecution will end soon. But if the persecution doesn't end, they will continue their efforts to tell people about the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong, exposing the regime's true face so that more people understand the truth.