(Minghui.org) Practitioners held a rally in Philadelphia’s Chinatown on October 6, 2024, to celebrate and support the 430 million Chinese people who have quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations and to condemn the CCP’s crime of harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners.

At the rally, practitioners talked about the importance of quitting CCP, and members of the Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting organization spoke about the CCP’s crimes against humanity involving organ harvesting. Practitioners handed out information about Falun Gong and asked people to sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Rally in Philadelphia’s Chinatown celebrates the 430 million Chinese who quit the CCP and condemns CCP’s crime of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners

Pennsylvania State Representative Mary Louise Isaacson issued an official commendation for the rally, and Dr. Mark Thomas, Chair of the Political Science Department at La Salle University, spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of breaking free from authoritarian rule.

More than 20 Chinese withdrew from the CCP and its affiliated organizations at the rally.

State Representative: The Largest Grassroots Movement in Human History

Pennsylvania State Representative Mary Louise Isaacson commended those who have withdrawn from the CCP.

State Representative Mary Louise Isaacson praised those who have renounced their affiliations with the CCP and expressed her admiration for their pursuit of freedom. She also issued a commendation.

The commendation noted that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives: “takes great pride and pleasure in recognizing those individuals and organizations whose efforts celebrating and recognizing freedom here and around the world.” It further recognized the rally as an important event, celebrating “the 436 million Chinese people who have courageously renounced their affiliations with the most brutal, repressive regime in the world—the Chinese Communist Party.”

The commendation highlighted the movement to withdraw from the CCP, noting that it began in 2004 and is “the largest grassroots movement in the history of human civilization.” The movement was inspired by the book Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. She commended the movement for helping Chinese people “to break free from the regime’s statewide propaganda machine and 75 years of brutal, repressive campaigns that deprived the Chinese people of their spiritual heritage and basic human rights.”

Representative Isaacson also condemned the CCP’s crime of harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners, stating that “the CCP runs a lucrative organ transplant business, the main resource of which are organs harvested live from prisoners of conscience in China, mostly Falun Gong practitioners.” She concluded by reaffirming the Pennsylvania House’s support for the movement to withdraw from the CCP.

University Chair: Fighting for Freedom and Awakening

Dr. Mark Thomas, Chair of the Political Science Department at La Salle University, addressed the rally.

Human rights advocate Dr. Mark Thomas delivered an impassioned speech at the rally, praising the courage of the movement to renounce the CCP. He said, “The movement to withdraw from the CCP continues the long-standing tradition of resisting oppression and opposing the will of a few ruling over the majority.” Dr. Thomas emphasized the importance of standing up against authoritarianism: “When the majority remain silent or indifferent, it becomes easy for a small group to control them.” He praised the movement’s efforts to challenge the CCP, noting that, “the CCP indeed faces pressure from the movement to renounce it.”

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Dr. Thomas again commended those who have bravely quit the CCP. He said, “It’s encouraging to see so many people have already withdrawn from the CCP.” He further noted that it takes great courage to stand up against a dictatorship. “No one wants to live under a regime where someone dictates how you should think or what to think.”

Dr. Thomas also expressed concern about the infiltration of communist ideology into Western society and warned, “Communism has crept in very subtly... When people’s moral defenses weaken, communism sneaks in.” He stressed the importance of raising awareness, “Today’s rally helps raise awareness. We need more listeners.”

On the topic of organ harvesting, Dr. Thomas pointed out the atrocities committed by the CCP, and said, “Forced labor and illegal organ transplants by the CCP caused unimaginable suffering.” He underscored the need to increase awareness and called for more people to join the movement to renounce the CCP in order to stop this intolerable violation of human dignity.

Public Support

After learning about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and the shocking crime of organ harvesting, many people expressed their support.

Liza Layne was stunned by the CCP’s crime of harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners.

Liza Layne, a software engineering manager from London, was stunned by the information she heard at the rally. She said, “I had no idea this was happening.” She was particularly shocked by the reality of organ harvesting. “It’s unbelievable that in 2024, people are still being killed for their organs. I thought such things wouldn’t happen anymore, but clearly, they are still happening.” Liza said she would learn more about the issue and share what she discovered when she returns to the UK.

Thavanesi Gurayah, a university lecturer from South Africa, signs the petition to stop the persecution of Falun Gong.

Thavanesi Gurayah, a lecturer from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, voiced her outrage when she heard about the CCP’s atrocities. “I knew about human rights violations in China, but hearing about the organ harvesting is extremely shocking and disgusting.” After signing the petition to oppose the CCP’s crimes, she emphasized the importance of international pressure: “This rally is very important. International pressure is essential to stop these violations, and events like this help build that support.”

Kate Belkina signed the petition to end the persecution of Falun Gong.

Kate Belkina, a dermatologist from Philadelphia, was also apalled by what she learned at the rally. She said when she heard about the organ harvesting, “It gave me goosebumps. I never thought such things could happen in the 21^st century.” After signing the petition, Kate said she would share the information with her friends and coworkers.

Many people accepted the informational materials practitioners were handing out.

People sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.

Practitioners’ banners calling for an end to the CCP and the persecution