(Minghui.org) To commemorate the 24th anniversary of the April 25 Appeal, Falun Dafa practitioners in Toronto held a rally, candlelight vigil and other activities on April 25, 2023, to call for an end to the persecution.

Practitioners held a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate at 11 a.m. At 3 p.m. they unfurled banners at the main intersection of downtown, told people about the persecution of Falun Dafa and collected signatures to end the persecution. They held a candlelit vigil at 8 p.m. in front of the Chinese Consulate to commemorate the practitioners who were persecuted to death by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the past 24 years.

Practitioners held a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate at 11 a.m. on April 25, 2023.

Practitioners collected signatures at the main intersection in downtown Toronto at 3 p.m..

A candlelight vigil was held in front of the Chinese Consulate at 8 p.m. to commemorate those who were persecuted to death by the CCP.

Telling the Public about the April 25 Appeal

Falun Dafa practitioner Li Xiuzhi recounted her personal experience of participating in the April 25 Appeal 24 years ago.

Li Xiuzhi, who began practicing Falun Dafa in 1994, recounted her personal experience of participating in the April 25th Appeal 24 years ago.

She said, “When I arrived in Beijing, I didn’t know where the Appeals Office was. Since people trusted the police, we asked them how to get there. The police took us to the central government building, and told us to wait there. At that time, many people were already waiting there. Some were practicing the exercises or reading. Everyone waited quietly.”

“Premier Zhu Rongji eventually came out to talk to the practitioner representatives. The representatives later came back and told everyone that practitioners in Tianjin had been released, and the government promised that practitioners could legally practice the exercises. The situation was resolved and everyone was happy. We left in an orderly manner. They even picked up cigarette butts discarded by the police and garbage thrown by passers-by.

“It was such a peaceful petition. Later when the CCP persecuted Falun Dafa, they claimed the appeal was besieging the government building, but in fact, the police led us there.”

“Don’t give up. Let more people know the truth”

Travis (right) signs the petition to support practitioners.

Travis was shocked when he learned about the persecution. He said, “Falun Dafa has been persecuted for 24 years, which is too long. The persecutors are dehumanized and have no conscience. I felt sad to hear that the practitioners’ goal was just to have a legal environment to practice, but they were persecuted like this. China has long been under the dictatorship of the CCP. If you choose not to renounce your faith, you will be persecuted. But man lives not only for profit, but also for moral conscience. I am disgusted by the CCP’s abuse of power.”

He said, “I hope that the Canadian government can take action to resist the CCP. I also hope that Falun Dafa practitioners can persevere. Do not give up, and let more people know the truth. I will also tell my friends and family to support you.”

“I absolutely 100% hope to see the CCP disintegrate.”

Gil, who lived in Hangzhou for four years, signs the petition.

Gil lived in Hangzhou, China for four years. “When I lived there, I did see that the CCP would use the public prosecution law to achieve its goals. The CCP wants Chinese to be obedient and control them. I think unless the CCP falls, it is difficult for China to change. So I think the Great Wall of Truth campaign is a good way to promote it. Tell people about the evil of the CCP, and let people condemn the CCP.

“China is rich in cultural connotations. None of these were built during the CCP’s rule. The culture formed in its long history has been used by the CCP to whitewash and glorify itself. However, in real life, traditional culture is rejected and suppressed by the CCP. This is pathetic and hypocritical,” he said.

He concluded, “I absolutely 100% hope to see the CCP regime disintegrate. The CCP’s crackdown on Chinese people is not only profoundly wrong, but also disgusting.”

“Twenty-four years of persecution is too long.”

Breagha said she would tell friends about Falun Gong.

Breagha, who had never heard of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa before, found it incredible. “I don’t want to see anyone persecuted for their faith, because faith nourishes the body and mind.”

“The CCP’s propaganda of lies and the fake news broadcast by the mouthpiece media want to convince the people that practitioners should be violently suppressed, and lose their personal freedom. However, I see that Falun Dafa practitioners still adhere to their faith in the face of violence. For me, this shows that they have found the truth in their faith, and it is worth helping them protect.

“So, keep going, because here we believe in you and believe you’re doing the right thing. Twenty-four years of persecution is too long, about my age. So I’m absolutely going to tell this truth and letting my friends pay attention.”

“The CCP’s organ harvesting is the most evil thing that has happened in human history”

Ranga from India condemns the CCP’s persecution.

Ranga immigrated to Canada from India two years ago. He said, “The CCP has committed a great crime by harvesting the organs of Falun Dafa practitioners. Even small animals must be cared for, not to mention human life. It is such a large scale! In our generation, it is difficult to imagine such a barbaric act, which I cannot accept.”

“The CCP is still covering up and concealing these evils, so we only hear the news, such as their economic development, building skyscrapers and people getting rich. It is behind this shady crime and profiting. This is simply the most evil thing that can happen in human history. I will support you in speaking out against the persecution,” he said.

Ukrainians: “I will support you.”

Mr. Nestor and his wife learn about the persecution of Falun Dafa.

After learning about the purpose and significance of the event, Mr. Nestor and his wife, who just came from Ukraine, did not hesitate to sign the petition to stop the persecution.

Mr. Nestor said, “We come from Ukraine, and we know very well the evil of communism. I have faced the same situation as you, so I understand you very well, and now I want to support you in my way.”

He said that he would share what he learned today with his friends and let more people know about the persecution in China.

Background: What Is the April 25 Appeal?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) 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 have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises—and experienced improved health and well-being.

On April 23 & 24, 1999, police officials in Tianjin, a city near Beijing, assaulted and arrested dozens of practitioners who had gathered outside a magazine office to discuss errors in a recently-published article attacking Falun Dafa. As word spread of the arrests and more practitioners inquired with officials, they were told they had to take their appeal to Beijing.

The following day, April 25, some 10,000 Falun Dafa practitioners spontaneously gathered at the Central Appeals office in Beijing, as they had been instructed by Tianjin officials. The gathering was peaceful and orderly. Several Falun Dafa representatives were called in to meet with Chinese Premier, Zhu Rongji, and members of his staff. That evening, practitioners' concerns were answered. The arrested practitioners in Tianjin were released and everyone went home.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the CCP, perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and issued an order to ban Falun Dafa on July 20, 1999.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners due to the persecution over the years; the actual number is suspected to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.