(Minghui.org) “I support Falun Gong! You are great. I have signed the petition,” a woman said loudly as she passed by the Falun Gong exercise demonstration at the 2014 Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival on Centre Island. More than 5,000 people participated in the race and over 100,000 people spectators took in the event, which took place over the two days of June 21 and 22.
As in previous years, Falun Gong practitioners, including young practitioners from the Minghui School, introduced Falun Gong to festival visitors by displaying informational banners and demonstrating the exercises. They exposed the persecution in China, collected signatures on a petition calling for an end to the persecution and assisted Chinese people in withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.
Young practitioners and their parents practice the Falun Gong exercises at Centre Island Park.
A visitor signs the petition against the CCP's forced organ harvesting
People pause to learn about Falun Gong
Visitors read about Falun Gong on an informational banner near the ferry
Ms. Wang from the Service Center for Quitting the CCP told the reporter that more than 20 informational banners were hung around the ferry and over 100 photos were shown, which drew many visitors to stop and read. She said that more than 200 people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations at this location over the past two days, and nearly 1,000 people signed the petition against the CCP's forced organ harvesting from persecuted Falun Gong practitioners.
Chinese Professor: History Will Restore the Innocence of Falun Gong
Mr. He, a university professor from X'ian, China, was in Canada visiting his son. When he saw the young practitioners demonstrating the exercises, he became interested and took a lot of photos. He said to a practitioner, “The Falun Gong issue needs to be resolved sooner or later. Some of my students who work in the Political and Judicial Committee have told me, 'Falun Gong and the June 4 Tiananmen massacre are issues that will be redressed, but are only waiting for the right opportunity.' History will restore the innocence of Falun Gong.”
The professor continued, “I am able to break through the Internet blockade in China. I have read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. I have learned many things, including the facts about the staged Tiananmen self-immolation.”
Before leaving, the professor renounced his CCP membership with an alias and expressed appreciation to the volunteer for helping him withdraw from the Party: “Thank you. What you are doing is very good.”
I Finally Found Falun Gong!
A woman from Houston (left) learns the Falun Gong exercises
A visitor from Houston, Texas was interested in the exercises upon seeing the young practitioners' demonstration. She said enthusiastically, after accepting a flyer, “I've heard of Falun Gong before and know it is a practice of mind and body. I've been trying to find more about it, and would really like to learn it.”
She learned the exercises right there by following along with a practitioner. She also took video footage of the young practitioners demonstrating the exercises.
“Falun Dafa Is Good!”
Glen, a tourist from Etobicoke near Toronto, saw the young practitioners demonstrating the exercises and stopped. Excited, he shouted in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is good!” He said that he wished to know more about Falun Gong. After listening to a practitioner's explanation, he became interested and said he would go online to learn more. When he learned that such a graceful practice is being persecuted in China, he immediately signed the petition against the persecution. He expressed his appreciation to the practitioner talking to him about the practice.
Quitting the CCP
Ms. Zhang, from China, has been in Toronto for two months. She came to the Dragon Boat festival with her child. After talking with volunteers about withdrawing from the Party, she renounced the CCP-affiliated organizations with an alias.
Ms. Yu from Fuzhou, China has been in Toronto for less than a year. She wanted to quit the Party after understanding the significance of withdrawing from the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
People from Around the World Express Support for Ending the Persecution
Sana from Pakistan signed the petition after learning about the CCP's atrocity of live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners.
Lyann from England was interested in the practice upon seeing the young practitioners demonstrating the exercises. She said, after listening to a practitioner's explanation, “Such a peaceful practice should not be persecuted.” She signed the petition right away.
Nolan, a professional photographer from Windsor, took photos of the young practitioners demonstrating the exercises. He accepted a flyer and listened to a practitioner's explanation about the practice and the persecution. He signed the petition form and said that he would learn more about Falun Gong online.
