Pennsylvania: Practitioners Hold Rally in Philadelphia’s Chinatown to Commemorate the April 25 Appeal

(Minghui.org) On April 22, 2023, Falun Dafa practitioners in the greater Philadelphia area held a rally under the Chinatown archway to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the April 25 Appeal.

They gave speeches, distributed information about Falun Dafa, and collected signatures, calling on people to help stop the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) persecution.

It was a sunny day and many people were enjoying the spring weather. They signed the petition to express their support. Seventeen Chinese quit the CCP or its junior organizations during the event.

Practitioners in the greater Philadelphia area held a rally in Chinatown on April 22, 2023, to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the April 25 Appeal.

April 25 Appeal Participant Recalls Historic Day

Huang Kui was a Ph.D. student at Tsinghua University in Beijing 24 years ago. He said, “I took a bus with my classmates to the Appeals Office, which is close to the central government building. I saw many practitioners standing on the sidewalks along Wenjin Street and Fuyou Street. They did not block traffic, and some police officers were there.”

He said, “Practitioners stood quietly. No one shouted slogans. We all just waited to meet with the Appeals Office officials. Later, practitioner representatives were asked to meet with the staff and asked for a few things: ‘The immediate release of practitioners arrested in Tianjin; allow the publication of Falun Dafa books; give practitioners a legal environment to practice.’”

Huang Kui said, “Practitioners quietly awaited the outcome. When they got tired, they moved to the back and sat down; when they were hungry or thirsty, they took turns buying something to eat. The scene was orderly, which fully reflected the practitioners’ demeanor.

“It was not until eight or nine o’clock that evening that I heard that the government promised to immediately release those who had been illegally arrested in Tianjin, and the practitioners quickly left. Before we left, we picked up all the garbage on the ground, even the police officers’ cigarette butts. The incident was resolved peacefully and rationally.”

People sign the petition to express their support.

“The persecution should not exist”

Dawson Chen, a real estate investor, is a loyal viewer of NTD, so he knows about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa. He did not hesitate to sign the petition.

Mr. Chen admired the practitioners for their perseverance in clarifying the truth. “Freedom is very important,” he said, “We should have the right to express our religious beliefs, but the CCP tries to control people’s lives. I don’t want this to be brought to the United States.”

He said that he had heard about the CCP’s crime of organ harvesting, and he hoped to learn more about it.

Jeffrey Boyer, an IT engineer from Delaware, happened to be passing through Chinatown. After learning about the CCP’s organ harvesting of practitioners, he signed the petition to help stop the persecution.

“[The CCP’s organ harvesting of Falun Dafa practitioners] is so tragic, so dehumanizing, so horrible. I think everyone has a responsibility to get involved and try to help stop this crime immediately,” he said. “Organ harvesting is evil. I can’t imagine this happening today, but it does exist. It should not exist, it must stop!”

Natali Martinez, a primary school teacher, talked to practitioners and signed the petition. She said she was aware of some of the CCP’s evil deeds of persecuting faith, “It [the CCP] does not give people rights. People are sent to concentration camps, where there is no freedom. I understand that religious persecution takes place there. So I’m definitely willing to offer some help.”