(Minghui.org) July 20, 2021 marks 22 years that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has persecuted Falun Dafa in China. Falun Dafa practitioners in Toronto, Canada held activities on July 17, 2021, to tell people about the CCP’s 22-year-long persecution, including a rally and a march. The activities began with a rally at Queens Park next to the Ontario Legislative Building. Many Canadian politicians and elites spoke during the event, praising practitioners’ virtues, vowing to continue supporting them, and calling for an end to the brutal persecution.

Practitioners arrived at the park early that morning and began practicing their exercises in the rain. The rally began at 12 noon and the march started at 1 p.m. The march lasted for over 2 hours.

As part of the day's activities, practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises in Queens Park next to the Ontario Legislative Building

Practitioners held a rally to raise awareness of their 22-year-long peaceful resistance of the CCP’s persecution.

Praised Practitioners for Bringing Warmth

Ontario lawyer John Parker, former Member of Provincial Parliament and former Toronto city councilor spoke at the rally.

Ontario lawyer John Parker, former Member of Provincial Parliament and former Toronto city councilor, comparedFalun Dafa practitioners to the sun, which brings people its warmth and power. While the evil followers who persecute Falun Dafa only bring destruction.

“I see that (sunshine) as the message that you bring, with your message of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance,”he said. “Thank you for your sunshine! May you continue to smile, may you continue to persevere. My best wishes to every single one of you.”

Falun Dafa Practitioners are Powerful Lights Against Evil and Dark Forces

Sheng Xue, vice president of the Federation for a Democratic China, spoke at the rally.

Sheng Xue, award-winning Canadian author and vice president of the Federation for a Democratic China, compared practitioners to light in the darkness. She said that the darkness is the power of evil against humanity and the lights are the power of the people against the darkness.

“The CCP is the most powerful dark force in today’s era,” she said, “Falun Dafa practitioners are the light which fights against the darkness. Every cultivator, especially those who have sacrificed their lives for their belief, are the people who make up this powerful light.”

“When people in the future look back to this time, they will see you, they will see the shining light in this darkness. Thank you!” she said.

Falun Dafa Practitioners Have the Strength, Commitment and Courage to Persevere in the Darkest Moments

Consiglio Di Nino, former Canadian senator, spoke at the rally.

Consiglio Di Nino, retired Senator of Canada, has supported Falun Dafa practitioners in their peaceful resistance to the persecution for more than 20 years. He said in his speech that he did not know how to properly describe the long journey Falun Dafa practitioners have traveled. He said, “They have the strength, commitment, and courage to continue in the darkest moments.”

He pointed out that he’s been aware of the persecution from the very beginning, and has a message for the CCP: “You keep denying that this persecution is happening. Then, what are you hiding? Let the media come in and take a look and talk to those torture victims.”

He said that as long as the CCP continues hiding what it’s doing, it has no right to deny (the persecution) is happening. 

Dinino said that he was very happy to see so many young people participating in the rally, “They are continuing to carry the torch,” As the older generation, “we will certainly continue to help .”

‘The Time for the CCP to Answer for Its Crimes Is Coming’

Lizon Wladslaw, Former Member of Parliament spoke at the rally.

Former Member of Parliament Lizon Wladslaw said in his speech that he grew up in an Eastern European Communist country. At that time, they received help from western countries including Western Europe, Canada, and the United States. “They were gathering like we are gathering here today to demand our rights and a change in the Communist system...., and eventually we were successful.”

“It’s time to end this genocide. It’s so important that we are here together and we work together to help and support people that are persecuted in China,” he said. “The time for the CCP to answer for its crimes is coming.”

CCP Must Be Held Accountable for Its Horrific Crimes Against Humanity

Gloria Fung, president of Canadian-Hong Kong Link, spoke at the rally.

Gloria Fung, president of Canadian-Hong Kong Link, said that the CCP not only persecuted Falun Dafa practitioners but “for decades, the CCP has been responsible for horrific crimes against humanity and genocide.”

She said, “The CCP has been undermining Canada and Western democratic countries through manipulation, infiltration, intimidation, and hostage-taking. Canada and Western countries are beginning to realize that the CCP is an adversary—militarily, technologically and politically.” 

She emphasized, “It’s past time to take a stand against this repressive regime! As we say, in unity, there is strength,” Fung said, “I urge all of you present today to join us in this global campaign, denouncing the oppressive totalitarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party.” 

Calling on the Canadian Government to Continue to Speak Out for Justice

Falun Dafa practitioner Lin Shenli spoke at the rally.

Falun Dafa practitioner Lin Shenli said that he was arrested in 1999, for going to Beijing to appeal and tell people the facts about Falun Dafa. He was later sent to a forced labor camp for two years and was forced to do slave labor. “The long-term overload of slave labor caused large areas on my entire body to ulcerate and I couldn’t sleep. Despite my condition, they still forced me to do slave-labor every day.”

He continued, “In the labor camp, they forced me to undergo physical checkups and documented the data from various examinations. Their sinister purpose was to collect data and prepare to remove my organs.”

Lin Shenli said that in China, Falun Dafa practitioners who persevere in their faith and have the courage to speak out about the facts “can be killed for their organs at any time.”

Lin Shenli came to Canada in February 2002 thanks to the Canadian government’s rescue efforts. He said that his 76-year-old sister Lin Qiupeng was arrested in China on May 29, 2020, for persevering in practicing Falun Dafa, “She is still being held in custody and we have heard nothing from her.”

“I call on the Canadian government and all good people to continue to extend your helping hand. Let us work together and speak up to stop the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa,” Lin Shenli said.

Joe Chipkar, the spokesperson for the Canadian Falun Dafa Association, said at the rally, “Falun Dafa practitioners (in China) have suffered discrimination, arrest, imprisonment, incredible torture, and slaughter. In China, the whereabouts of millions of Falun Dafa practitioners are unknown, and we are worried that they have been killed by the CCP.”

“A large amount of evidence shows that Falun Dafa practitioners have been and continue to be killed for their organs in prison. Just last month, 12 UN special rapporteurs stated in a press release that they were extremely shocked at the credible allegations that the CCP kills Falun Dafa practitioners, and people from other religions and minorities for their organs.”