(Minghui.org) Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) is a spiritual belief based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Many people feel that practicing Falun Gong improves one's health and character. Due to the spiritual practice's popularity, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initiated the persecution 21 years ago, on July 20, 1999. 

The deaths of more than 4500 Falun Gong practitioners have been documented since July 20, 1999. Hundreds of thousands of practitioners have been imprisoned, incarcerated, tortured, and even subjected to state-sanctioned live organ harvesting.

The actual number is likely much higher due to the CCP’s information censorship. Falun Gong practitioners across the world hold activities around July 20 each year to peacefully protest the persecution and call for it to end. The following events were held in Taiwan. 

Rally and Candlelight Vigil in Tainan

Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil in Dongning Sports Park, Tainan, on July 18, 2020. They did the exercises and showed a video. Invited guests gave speeches to express their support. 

Practitioners held a candlelight vigil in Dongning Sports Park on July 18, 2020.Exercise demonstrationPractitioners watch a video about the persecution.

City councilors Lee Chi-wei, Gu Mu-Hajiu, Cai Hsiao-wei, and Shen Chen-dung, and legislator Guo Guo-wen’s secretary Du Pei-chang, as well as former Lions club director Ou Chen-ping, all came to show their support. The organizers presented a recently published book, Minghui Report: The 20-Year Persecution of Falun Gong in China to the four city councilor members. 

City councilor Lee Chi-wei condemns the CCP. City councilor Gu Mu-Hajiu calls on the world's people to work together against the CCP’s tyranny. 

City councilor Cai Hsiao-wei condemns the CCP’s violations of human rights. 

City councilor Shen Chen-dung points out that disintegrating the CCP is the only way to end the persecution. Education councilor Wu Da-shu believes that the peace, rationale, kindness, and perseverance of Falun Gong practitioners will raise the conscience of more people. 

Rally in Hualien

Falun Gong practitioners in Hualien held a peaceful rally on the Chihsingtan Coast on July 18. They did the exercises, distributed fliers, clarified the truth to passersby, and called for an end to the persecution. 

Guo Ying-yi, Deputy Chief Executive of the Eastern Service Division of Taiwan's Executive Yuan; Liu Song-bin, Secretary for Hualien County Assembly Speaker Chang Jun; DPP Hualien County Party Spokesperson Lin Jin-wen; and former Chinese private reporter Zhou Shuguang expressed their support and called for an end to the persecution. Zhou Shuguang announced that he had withdrawn from the Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers, two CCP organizations.

Rally in HualienRally in HualienPractitioners demonstrate the exercises.Tourists stop to take photos.Reporter from China Zhou Shuguang publicly withdraws from the Communist Youth League and Young Pioneers. 

Guo Ying-yi, Deputy Chief Executive of the Eastern Service Division of Taiwan's Executive Yuan, calls on the international community to object to the CCP’s National Security Law for Hong Kong.Liu Song-bin, Secretary for Hualien County Assembly Speaker Chang Jun, said he would tell his friends about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution. 

Rally and March in Changhua, Taichung

Practitioners in Taichung held a rally and march in Lukang to protest the CCP’s 21-year-long persecution. 

Rally and march in Lukang, Changhua, on July 18

Several elected officials and leaders of non-government organizations from the Changhua area participated in the activities. They expressed their admiration for and solidarity with Falun Gong practitioners. They also called on people to be aware of the CCP’s true nature and help stop the persecution as soon as possible. 

The Tian Guo Land Marching Band led the march. Local people and tourists gathered to watch and take photos. Many people gave practitioners a thumbs up and commended them. Several people followed the procession to learn more about Falun Gong.

Legislator Chen Hsiu-bao participates in the rally and calls on people to support Falun Gong and safeguard human rights. 

Changhua County councilor Lee Cheng-chi participates in the candlelight vigil and condemns the CCP’s persecution and live organ harvesting. He hopes the CCP collapses soon. 

Chang An-dung, Head of Fungus Township, participates in the candlelight vigil and encourages the practitioners to uphold their belief. 

Former Changhua County Head Wei Ming-GU participates in the candlelight vigil and calls on democratic countries and people to work together to eliminate the CCP. 

Guo Li-yew, the 17^th President of the Vancouver Taiwanese Association, participates in the rally and said he admires practitioners' perseverance. 

Candlelight vigil in Changhua, Taiwan, on July 18, 2020.

Related articles in Chinese: Rally in Hualien; Rally and March in Changhua