(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Germany held an event on Marienplatz in Munich, on April 22, 2023, to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the April 25 Appeal in China.

Dafa practitioners’ awareness-raising event at Marienplatz on April 22, 2023 attracted passersby.

On April 25, 1999, twenty-four years ago, approximately ten thousand Falun Dafa practitioners went to the Beijing State Council Appealing Office to make an appeal. They requested that Falun Dafa practitioners who were illegally arrested in Tianjin be released and asked that people be allowed a legal environment to practice Falun Dafa. After the issue was resolved after a discussion with the Chinese premier, the practitioners left quietly. However, former CCP (Chinese Communist Party) leader Jiang Zemin defamed this appeal and launched the persecution of Falun Dafa less than three months later.

Dating to the 12^th Century and located in the center of Munich, Marienplatz is a major tourist attraction. Practitioners’ slow and gentle exercise movements accompanied by melodious music was a calm oasis and attracted the attention of many passersby. People stopped to read the display boards and speak to practitioners. They learned about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, who follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, and that this persecution has gone on for twenty-four years. They also learned that the CCP harvests practitioners’ organs while they are still alive for sale to the organ transplant industry. Many people signed the petition to show their support for practitioners and to end the persecution.

Passersby talk with practitioners at the April 25 commemoration event.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises.

People sign the petition to show their support for practitioners and to help end the persecution.

People stop to watch practitioners as they demonstrate the exercises.

Some learned the Falun Dafa exercises on the spot.

High School Student Learns the Exercises 

High school student, Alexander Martin, said he felt relaxed after he practiced the exercises.

When high school student Alexander Martin noticed the practitioners’ event he was very interested. He imitated the hand gestures of the practitioners who were practicing the exercises. After a while, he talked to a practitioner. He said, “I really would like to know how it feels to practice the exercises.” Although he did not practice the exercises for long, Alexander said he felt relaxed.

When he learned about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, which has already been going on for twenty-four years, Alexander immediately signed the petition to call for stopping the CCP’s persecution. “I object to the persecution of human rights. People practicing the exercises will not harm anybody. I think that what they [the CCP] do is wrong.”

Economist: This Quiet Protest Is Very Good

Ms. Marka Lossa 

“I object to any form of abusing human lives,” economist Ms. Marka Lossa said after signing the petition. She was passing by Marienplatz when she noticed practitioners demonstrating the exercises and handing out information about the persecution. She commended them and said, “I feel that this is a good form of protest. It is quiet, but able to raise people’s attention about important matters.”

Ms. Lossa also said, “I saw a documentary about the CCP’s harvesting of the Falun Dafa practitioners’ organs while they are still alive. I thought that I must do something to object to this act. If it is just signing a small signature to express my objection, why not? I dislike the CCP’s infringement of human rights.”

Architect: Chinese Communism Is Not Good for the World

Architect Mr. Achim said he supports practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.

“I happened to be standing there (on the other side of Marienplatz) and the speakers caught my attention. I am worried about China’s communism, as it is not good for the world,” Mr. Achim said, adding that he stopped to listen and decided to talk to practitioners. He said felt that the exercise demonstration was peaceful. After he learned about the CCP’s long-term persecution, Mr. Achim signed the petition without any hesitation.

“When I learned about this terrifying situation, I want to sign to object to it,” Mr. Achim said. He talked more with practitioners and learned that they practice Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. For the past twenty-four years, the CCP prohibits people in China to practice Falun Dafa, and persecutes them. Mr. Achim remarked, “This reminds people of Germany during the Nazi dictatorship. Churches were restricted and the people who did not abide by Hitler’s orders were persecuted and sentenced to death. Dictatorship and communism are the same as Fascism. They never serve humankind. They only have crazy thoughts.”