London, UK: March and Press Conference Protest the Chinese Communist Regime’s 24-Year-Long Persecution

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held a march in central London on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Afterward, they held a press conference near the British Prime Minister’s Office to commemorate the 24th anniversary of Falun Dafa practitioners peacefully protesting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. 

The march passed through the busy streets in London, including Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Chinatown. Wherever it passed, passersby stopped to watch, take photos, and accept leaflets. 

Practitioners marched in central London. 

Practitioners marched through Chinatown in London. Press conference near the British Prime Minister’s Office. 

At the press conference, Ms. Victoria, a representative of the British Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) Association, pointed out that the CCP is atheist and controls the people by creating fear, implementing violence, lying, and propaganda. Naturally, it cannot tolerate the peaceful belief of honesty, kindness, and tolerance.

Ms. Victoria, the representative of the British Falun Dafa Association, addressed the rally.

John Dee, Chairman of European Friends of Falun Gong, said in his speech that the CCP failed to influence or reduce the positive impact of Falun Dafa on the world. It is only a matter of time before the CCP is defeated.

John Dee, Chairman of European Friends of Falun Gong.

Letters of support from several members of Parliament were also read during the press conference. Lawmakers unanimously expressed their support for Falun Dafa practitioners and pointed out that they would not stand by and tolerate such egregious human rights abuses.

Reading letters of support.

David Matas: The Truth Will Be Revealed 

Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas also attended the press conference. In his speech, Matas presented ten pieces of evidence that people should bear in mind. He emphasized that Falun Gong’s vast influence is one of the reasons why the CCP began to suppress it.

At the same time, the demonization of Falun Gong has led to the crime of large-scale live organ harvesting. He emphasized that if human rights violations are not curbed, they will affect one group after another like a virus: “Just like China’s live organ harvesting problem initially targeted death-row inmates, then turned to Falun Gong practitioners, and gradually spread to Uyghurs.”

He said that no matter how hard the Chinese Communist Party tries to cover it up, the truth will eventually come out. Twenty countries have passed laws banning their citizens from participating in the abuse of organ transplants abroad.

Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas.

He also praised the perseverance of Falun Gong practitioners in the face of brutal persecution. He said that we must remember the CCP’s persecution and victims. Jiang Zemin, the former head of the CCP, died in November 2022. However, neither he nor others were punished for their crimes. We cannot allow their crimes to be forgotten and we want to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. 

Public Condemn the CCP’s Persecution

IT manager Lubo and his three children watched the practitioners’ group practice. He has been to Hong Kong and knows the dissatisfaction there. He said, “Based on what happened in China, it is conceivable that the biggest challenge for the Chinese people is freedom. Freedom of belief is one of the most important human rights, and people should live like a free man.”

IT manager Lubo and his children. Mr. Lubo said it’s sad that Chinese people are arrested for their beliefs.

Mr. Lubo said, “In the 21st century, the CCP is still persecuting human rights. It is really sad that Chinese people are arrested and killed for their views or beliefs. Now people should be highly tolerant and help each other.”

When he saw Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance on the leaflet, he said it is a universal value recognized by the whole world. The CCP uses power to control the country, engage in persecution, and violate human rights.

Jenny and Catherine listen to a practitioner’s explanation. 

Jenny and Catherine are devout Christians. When they learned that the CCP harvests organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, Jenny said, “I cannot agree with this kind of forced organ harvesting. This is a devil. The CCP is lawless. It is great that Falun Gong practitioners come out to expose it. I pray for you. God is powerful and will defeat them (the CCP).” Both of them signed the petition.

Migtilena and her son Phil. 

When Migtilena and her son Phil passed by and saw people doing the exercises, they stopped to look. They liked Falun Gong, so they asked a practitioner for leaflets. Her son wished to learn the exercises. She thanked the practitioner for sharing a little origami lotus flower.

Fitness instructor Blenheim and her daughter Ace.

Fitness instructor Blenheim and her daughter Ace asked a practitioner what kind of practice it was. She said, “I see they (Falun Gong practitioners) are very peaceful as if they are praying and concentrating.” Ace said, “Protesting and demonstrating the exercises here is a just act. Some people may think that it is not their business, but I think as long as it is about human beings, it is everyone’s business. From this, we can know what has happened in China.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?

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 and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology. On July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 24 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners 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 China’s organ transplant industry.