Minnesota: Introducing Falun Dafa During Open Streets Days in Minneapolis

(Minghui.org) Minnesota is very cold in the winter, and all kinds of outdoor activities are held during the warm summer months. Between June 10 and October 8, one day of each month in Minneapolis is designated car-free Open Streets Minneapolis for people to come out and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

The largest city in Minnesota is Minneapolis, which is adjacent to the state capital, Saint Paul. Since Open Streets began in 2011, the Minnesota Falun Dafa Association has participated in it every year. This season, practitioners participated in events held in East Lake, Glenwood, Cedar Riverside, and Lyndale to introduce Falun Dafa to people.

Cars are banned on the streets during Open Streets days, and people are encouraged to walk, bike, or skate and interact with a variety of vendors. Many organizations participate in the event to connect with local residents. The Falun Dafa practitioners’ bright yellow tent decorated with pink lotus flowers was especially eye-catching and many passersby stopped to talk with practitioners and ask about Falun Dafa. Some learned the exercises during the event.

Practitioners introduce Falun Dafa during Open Streets Minneapolis.

Practitioners offered hand-made lotus flowers to children and explained what the words, “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” written on them meant. Both children and their parents said these values were good.

Some local residents previously heard about the persecution in China. They stopped at the booth to talk with practitioners and asked for more information. They also asked what they could do to help end the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. Some people who attended Shen Yun Performing Arts learned about the suppression through the performances and brought their friends to the booth, so that practitioners could explain what was going on in China.

Open Streets Days ended on October 8. On that day the streets were especially crowded, and many people came to talk to practitioners and some asked to learn the Falun Dafa exercises.