(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate in the annual Thanksgiving parade in Silver Spring, a city bordering Washington, DC, on November 19, 2022. Their message of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and the positive energy they passed on were welcomed by the spectators along the route.

Falun Gong practitioners in the Thanksgiving parade in Silver Spring on November 19

Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises on the float

The waist drum team

Practitioners in the parade

Spectators accept fliers from practitioners.

Silver Spring hosts the only Thanksgiving parade in the Greater Washington, DC, area, drawing spectators from the surrounding areas. More than 150 groups participated in the parade this year.

The practitioners’ entry included a float and waist drum team. Several young Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated the five exercises on the float. The waist drum team played with the music “Falun Dafa Is Good.” People cheered and clapped along with the drumbeats as they passed by. Many people accepted fliers from Falun Gong practitioners.

When the practitioners passed the viewing stage, the parade moderator introduced Falun Gong.

Taylor waves to practitioners.

Taylor applauded when he saw the practitioners. He lives in Silver Spring and has seen them doing the Falun Gong exercises in the center of the city. He said, “I like the message on the banner—Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It brings people peace.”

Rafi and his two children watched the parade.

It was Rafi’s first time to see Falun Gong practitioners in the parade. “This is a peaceful group. I like the bright colors and their message of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” he said.

Jenis Saffiogi from New York

Jenis Saffiogi from New York said that she had never seen Falun Gong before. “It‘s so beautiful,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience for me to see Falun Gong in the parade.” She said that after returning to New York, she would look for more information about Falun Gong.

Joanne and her friend watch the parade.

Joanne, a resident of Silver Spring, and her friend enjoyed the Falun Gong entry. Joanne said, “It’s amazing. I love their bright colors and positive energy.”

A practitioner gives a Falun Gong flyer to Congressman Jamie Raskin from Maryland.

U.S. Senators and congressmen from Maryland, as well as local dignitaries, were also in the parade. Practitioners told them about Falun Gong and presented them with origami lotus flowers.

Channel 8 News, Washington’s first 24-hour local cable news station, broadcast the parade live for two hours and will rebroadcast it on Thanksgiving Day, November 24.

Background: What Is Falun Gong?

Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—and learned the five exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.