Dublin, Ireland: Rally to Mark the 24th Year of Peaceful Protesting the Persecution, Elected Officials Express Support

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Ireland held a rally in front of Leinster House, Parliament, on July 12, 2023, to condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners over the past 24 years. They called on the public to help stop the CCP and end the persecution as soon as possible. On the day of the event, several Irish deputies went to the rally to sign a petition and express support.

Leinster House is the seat of the Irish parliament. Falun Gong practitioners put up banners and display boards outside Parliament Square. Accompanied by peaceful music, they demonstrated the exercises. The peaceful atmosphere at the scene drew the attention of government employees who passed by. They learned about the CCP’s persecution and live organ harvesting. Many people signed a petition calling to end the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners hold rally in front of Leinster House to protest the CCP’s 24-year-long persecution on July 12, 2023.

Deputy Paul Murphy signed the petition and called on the CCP to stop the persecution and live organ harvesting. He said, “If there is large-scale organ harvesting, it's terrible. We're against all persecution and denial of all civil rights of anybody living in China.”

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae supports Falun Gong.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said, “I wouldn't like to see anyone persecuted.” He said that the CCP’s persecution was wrong, and supported the practitioners’ effort protesting the persecution. “We can all make a difference. We never know what difference we can make until we try,” he said.

Deputy Johnny Guirke signs the petition.

Deputy Mattie McGrath has a photo with the practitioners after signing the petition.

Deputy Johnny Guirke also signed the petition. Deputy Mattie McGrath also expressed his solidarity and took a photo with the practitioners to show his support.

Deputy Bríd Smith

Deputy Bríd Smith sent a message stating that she “condemns all forms of human rights violations, state oppression, persecution and torture.”

Jim O’Leary, Councilor of Dundrum County Council

Councilor Jim O’Leary sent a message stating “to confirm my support for the members of Falun Gong to be allowed to practice their beliefs free from persecution and oppression.”

Mary Kavanagh, Councilor of Wicklow County Council

Wicklow County Councillor Mary Kavanagh sent a message expressing her "full support" of practitioners' efforts to end the CCP's persecution.

Kavanagh stated, "It's time to stop the brutality and to allow people to carry out this ancient practice in peace, free from any fear of repercussions."

Public Support

Leinster House is located in the center of Dublin, and its four wings are the National Library of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology and the National Museum of Ireland Natural History. Although Leinster House itself is closed to the public, many tourists pass by.

People learn about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution, and sign the petition condemning the brutality.

On the day of the rally, some Chinese tourists who went to visit stopped to read the display boards, and declared on the spot to withdraw from the CCP organizations that they had joined. There were also tourists from Britain, France, Italy and other places who, after learning about the persecution, signed the petition.

French tourists Laurent, Marie, and daughter Eve support Falun Gong.

Marie’s family is from Marseilles, the second largest city in France. After signing the petition, Marie said that it is unfair to be subjected to such cruel persecution because of their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Marie was happy to see that some people there are speaking out for Falun Gong practitioners in China and calling for an end to the persecution there. She said, “We meet sometimes people who think of others instead of ourselves. We are lucky to meet you here.”

Julio Lored supports practitioners protesting the persecution.

Julio Lored, originally from Italy, is the president of the Catholic Association -Tradition, Family, and Property. After seeing the rally, he pointed to the photos on the display board and introduced the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners to the children.

Lored was concerned about what is happening in China. He said that as a Catholic, he supports Falun Gong practitioners in their fight against the persecution despite having different beliefs, because the persecution of Falun Gong will affect everyone.

David Hall supports the effort protesting the persecution.

Dr. David Hall, who is engaged in clinical research, also supported the practitioners against the persecution and demanded to stop the atrocities of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. As a medical professional, Hall said that voluntary donation is the basic premise of everything, and the forced harvesting of organs from living people without consent violates the most basic principles, and violates the Hippocratic Oath and the code of ethics.

From left to right: Muriel, Susan, Shauna, and Latitia

Susan, a Dubliner, was preparing to attend a gathering nearby. When she learned that practitioners were collecting signatures to stop the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, she immediately picked up a pen to sign and invited her friends to sign together. After talking with the practitioners, they asked if they could take some leaflets with them, hoping that all of the friends at the party could help stop the CCP’s persecution.

Peadar wishes to learn Falun Gong.

Peadar works in the neighboring St. Stephen’s Green, and the practitioner have group practice in the park every Sunday. Peadar expressed his hope to learn Falun Gong during his break. He said the exercises are elegant and peaceful.

Looking at the practitioners who were demonstrating the exercises, Peadar said, “If you can’t practice this system and be persecuted, then something is wrong with the world. Anyone that cannot tolerate these principles [Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance] are fearful of the truth.”