(Clearwisdom.net) The 161st St. Patrick's Day Parade in San Francisco was held on March 17. One hundred and thirty-seven groups participated in the parade, and more than 100 thousand people watched it. The Western USA Divine Land Marching Band, consisting of local Falun Gong practitioners, performed in the parade, along with other Falun Gong entries, including the exercise demonstration team and a float.
The Divine Land Marching Band
Exercises demonstration team
Falun Gong float entry
The practitioners' performances were warmly welcomed by the spectators. When they passed by the stage, the host of the parade introduced them as a Buddhism cultivation group following the teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Many local citizens expressed their support of Falun Gong. A gentleman named Bill and his wife said that they had heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and they have written to their congressman, asking him to help stop the persecution. Ms. Pond said: “I am glad to see the Falun Gong group in the parade today. I've seen them in front of the Chinese Consulate, protesting the persecution. It is horrible that the persecution is still going on. I hope that more people will learn about it, and I hope the Chinese people will have freedom of belief in the future. I support their peaceful resistance to the persecution.”
