Dusseldorf and Augsburg, Germany: Rally and Awareness-raising Events Held to Mark 21st Anniversary of Peacefully Protesting the CCP’s Persecution

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) practitioners held a rally on Schadowplatz in Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia on July 18, 2020. Frank Boerner, member of State Parliament (MSP), representing all MSPs from Duisburg, spoke during the rally.

Practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises and collected signatures to condemn the persecution. Many people learned about the persecution during the event and signed the petition.

Group exercise demonstration

The weather was beautiful on Saturday and many people were strolling through downtown Dusseldorf. Attracted by the soothing music many stopped to watch the practitioners as they did the exercises. Others listened to speeches, read the posters, and several people took photos.

Practitioners demonstrate the exercises.

Passersby talk to a practitioner about Falun Dafa.

The event attracted several people's attention.

People sign a petition to condemn the persecution.

MSP Representatives Condemn the CCP

MSP Frank Boerner addresses the rally

Over ten MSPs from North Rhine-Westphalia state sent letters to support the practitioners’ event. MSP Frank Boerner spoke during the rally.

“For 21 years, people are persecuted in China for practicing Falun Gong,” MSP Boerner said. “Their education opportunities are restricted. They are arrested, imprisoned, beaten, or killed for practicing Falun Gong.”

He read an excerpt from the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He called on the CCP to follow the declaration and release all practitioners.

A practitioner addresses the rally.

Practitioners also spoke during the rally and talked about the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. They exposed the CCP’s history of lies and violence, and explained why the CCP continues to persecute Falun Dafa.

People Condemn the Persecution

“I've read many books and learned that Marx had moral issues,” said Josef, a passerby. “He attempted to separate human beings and God. But the CCP set up a statue of Marx at Trier. I've talked with several Chinese people and noticed they did not understand Marx or what communism is.”

Talking about the CCP’s impact in Germany, Josef felt that there were many CCP spies. After learning about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa, he said, “I think the Chinese communist regime is not a modern system, but a primitive tyrant.”

Josef takes a photo of the practitioners.

Raising Awareness in Augsburg

Practitioners held an awareness raising event on Rathausplatz in Augsburg on July 18, 2020. They told people of their the 21-year journey of protesting the CCP’s persecution and called for help to stop the brutality.

Practitioners held an awareness-raising event on Rathausplatz in Augsburg on July 18, 2020.

People stop and learn about Falun Dafa.

It was a lovely day and the downtown area was crowded. Many people watched the exercise demonstration and signed the petition calling on the German government to help stop the CCP’s live organ harvesting.

After signing the petition one elderly lady said that she supported the practitioners’ efforts. She thought the German government did not do enough on human rights issues, but focused on selling cars to China and doing business with it.

A young man accepted a flier and said he hadn't heard of the persecution. After reading it he immediately signed the petition.

“The Communist Party always does such bad things,” a middle-aged man said while reading a poster about the CCP’s persecution. He signed the petition afterward.

Relevant article in Chinese: Augsburg, Germany