(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Auckland, New Zealand held a rally on Queen Elizabeth Square, and a parade in the city’s business district on June 20, 2021. It marked June 26, the annual United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The activities called for a collective effort to stop the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Supporters of Falun Gong, including advocates calling for democracy in China, and human rights in Tibet, attended the event and gave speeches.

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, Hon Marama Davidson, minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, and Margaret Taylor from Amnesty International sent support letters to the event.

Auckland, New Zealand: Falun Gong Parade

Falun Gong practitioners hold a parade in Auckland’s business district.

Pedestrians sign a petition calling for an end to the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.

The parade started at Queen Elizabeth Square, proceeded along the busiest streets, and wrapped up on Aotea Square. Crowds of people witnessed the grand parade headed by the Tian Guo Marching Band. Many people took photos and videos, received information fliers, and signed a petition calling for an end to the CCP’s persecution. The compassionate and righteous atmosphere touched people’s hearts. Some supporters joined the parade, and loudly called out, “Falun Dafa is great!”

Councilperson Barry Wilson Shows his Support for Falun Gong

Barry Wilson, president of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, spoke at the rally.

Barry Wilson, president of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, said during his speech, “Ahead of World Anti-Torture Day, its right that we call out the so-called ‘Communist’ government of China for its abuses of Human Rights. Every Fascist dictatorship has to have a target it wants the community at large to hate… In Hitler’s Nazi Germany, that target was the Jews. In China, it’s Falun Gong.

“I’ve watched with admiration for many years the way Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) members worldwide have highlighted the abuses inflicted on them by China’s Fascist dictatorship, the evil trade of organ harvesting, the imprisonment, and the re-education camps. All these are against a group whose watchwords are Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance.”

Mr. Wilson said he was happy to see the countries of the G7 group, led by the United States, call out China for its human rights breaches. He would like to see New Zealand also “find its voice in condemning the torture and misery inflicted by Chinese fascists on human rights defenders in China.”

Human Rights Lawyer Kerry Gore Condemns the CCP Atrocities

Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore gives a speech.

Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore said at the rally, “Today’s event anticipates and marks the United Nations International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture, which is held annually to speak out against the crime of torture, and to honor and support victims and survivors throughout the world. Torture is one form of persecution. A form of persecution inflicted upon Falun Dafa practitioners in China, encompassing psychological torture, physical torture, and psychiatric torture among others. This has occurred in the broader context of a 22 year long persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China by the Chinese Communist Party…

Kerry Gore also stated: “In an environment such as this, it is a testament to the courage and determination of Falun Dafa practitioners in China that they continue to clarify the truth concerning the facts of this brutal persecution to the Chinese people. In doing so, they enable the Chinese people to see the true nature of the CCP, and to dissociate themselves from it…

“The CCP ought to be condemned for these things. Indeed, our government should not hesitate to do so... I hope all present here today will urge their elected representatives to protest the CCP’s egregious human rights abuses, to demand accountability from the CCP, and insist that those responsible for this persecution, and those implicated in that persecution, be brought to justice forthwith.”

Secretary-General Chris Newman Gives a Speech

Chris Newman, a key member of Advance NZ/Public Party and Secretary-General of Direct Democracy, gives a speech.

Chris Newman, a key member of Advance NZ/Public Party and Secretary-General of Direct Democracy, said that the Chinese Communist Party, known as a brutal regime, had turned torture into a business, and harvested Falun Gong practitioners’ organs for profit. He called it the most evil and despicable crime against humans. He hoped that the people in New Zealand would listen to Falun Gong practitioners’ experience, and help stop the infiltration of the CCP regime in New Zealand.

Democracy Advocate Johnson Jiang and Teacher Michael Zhuang

Johnson Jiang, an advocate for democracy in China, condemned the CCP’s lying to the Chinese people. He said, “The CCP has brutally suppressed Christians, journalists, human rights lawyers, Uyghurs, the people in Hong Kong, Falun Gong practitioners, and other religious groups. It controls all resources belonging to society, and monitors the people with 626 million surveillance cameras.”

Jiang asked all Chinese people in New Zealand to let go the indoctrination of Communist Party culture, resist the CCP’s infiltration, and stand on the side of righteous people.

Michael Zhuang, a school teacher, expresses his admiration of Falun Gong practitioners’ persistent work against the CCP’s persecution.