Toronto, Canada: Rally Marks 25 Years of Peaceful Efforts to Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) Nearly 1,000 Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) practitioners held a peaceful rally in front of the Ontario Legislative Building on July 20, 2024, calling for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 25-year persecution.

Several elected officials and other dignitaries participated in the rally and gave speeches, expressing their admiration for Falun Gong practitioners and calling for an end to the persecution. Some members of Parliament (MP) sent letters to express their support. Practitioners described their personal experiences to expose the CCP’s brutal persecution, which moved some listeners to tears.

Falun Gong practitioners hold a rally in front of the Ontario Legislative Building.Elected officials and other dignitaries who spoke in the rally had a group photo with some practitioners.

Former Senator: It Is My Honor to Support You

Former Senator Consiglio Di Nino addressed the rally.

Former Senator Consiglio Di Nino said in his speech at the rally, “I am very proud and honored to stand with my heroes, Falun Gong practitioners. Each of you is doing your best to stop the atrocities and cruel persecution launched by the CCP that are beyond human imagination. It is my honor to come here to support you every time.”

He said that as early as 25 years ago, he began to pay attention to the CCP’s abuse of its people. But what surprised him was that the world did not treat the CCP with the due strength, so now the CCP is still committing inhumane crimes against the Chinese people. He praised practitioners: “I send my sincere praise and applause to Falun Gong practitioners. As long as the CCP is still committing violence, I will work with you to stop the CCP’s atrocities.”

Former MP Calls on Government and People to Help End the CCP’s Persecution

Wladyslaw Lizon, former MP, speaks in the rally.

Wladyslaw Lizon, a former MP who was born in Poland, said in his speech, “The methods used by the Chinese Communist Party against Falun Gong practitioners have also been used by the rulers of communist countries around the world, including Poland.” He said that when he joined the Solidarity movement, many people were imprisoned, sent to labor camps, and some even died. But in the end they succeeded, and the Communist Party had to give up power.

Lizon called on the Canadian government and people to jointly oppose the CCP’s persecution. He said, “We must remind our government and people that they must firmly oppose all CCP persecution policies and not try to appease the CCP government. We should work together to stop persecuting Falun Gong.”

Former President of the Hong Kong-Canada Federation of Canada Praises Practitioners

Feng Yulan, former president of the Hong Kong-Canada Federation of Canada, spoke at the rally.

Feng Yulan, former president of the Hong Kong-Canada Federation of Canada, said in her speech, “I feel very honored to be able to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ resistance to the persecution with you today. On behalf of the Hong Kong-Canada Federation, I commend all Falun Gong practitioners for their heroic efforts in opposing the CCP’s brutal suppression.”

Feng said in an interview after the rally, “The efforts of Falun Gong practitioners over the past 25 years have allowed the world to see the evil nature of the CCP regime. The bravery and persistence of the practitioners are a model for fighting against the CCP regime.”

CEO of Optimum Publishing International: The Global Force to Resist the CCP Is Taking Shape

Dean Baxendale, CEO of Optimum Publishing International, addressed the rally.

Dean Baxendale, CEO of Optimum International Publishing, said about the CCP, “The Chinese Communist government oppresses Falun Gong and every religious group in China. Once they have done this, they will carry out transnational oppression around the world. The CCP is ultimately a criminal organization. They work with terrorists to systematically suppress people like Falun Gong practitioners.”

Baxendale said that the global force to resist the CCP is taking shape. He said, “When I talk to politicians or decision makers in Washington and Ottawa, we are all united. This force against the CCP has taken root around the world, and the attitude of the world towards the brutal regime of the CCP has indeed changed.”

Human Rights Lawyer: Peaceful Protesting of the Persecution Inspires Me

Sarah Teich, human rights lawyer, addressed the rally.

Canadian human rights lawyer Sarah Teich emphasized the crimes committed by the Chinese Communist Party against Falun Gong practitioners in her speech. “From killing to arbitrary detention, forced labor, and forced organ harvesting, these atrocities are horrific and almost unbelievable. However, they are real.”

Teich expressed her respect for Falun Gong practitioners: “Today, I am honored to stand here and support you with respect for Falun Gong practitioners. In the face of the unspeakable atrocities of the Chinese Communist Party, you have always insisted on using peaceful means to resist the persecution. This peace deeply inspires me.”

Deputy Leader of the Opposition: Looking Forward to Working with You to Fight for Human Rights

Letter from Melissa Lantsman, MP for Thronhill and Deputy Leader of the Opposition

The letter reads, “For a quarter of a century, millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China have been jailed, tortured, and killed simply because of their choice to honour the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Outside of China, many more have been targeted, harassed, and attacked for the same reason.”

She wrote that the CCP would not rest until Falun Gong is eliminated. But Falun Gong has not just survived, it has thrived, because the CCP “will never control the hearts and minds of people who want to be free.

“I look forward to standing beside you as we continue to fight for the basic human rights which are denied to so many. Today, on this anniversary, let us re-commit to making Canada the freest nation on Earth, while working to spread those freedoms to other nations all around the world.”

Former Provincial MP: The CCP Infiltrates Our Government

John Parker, a former Ontario MP, mentioned in his letter that we have clear evidence that the CCP is infiltrating our government and interfering in the personal lives of Canadian citizens. The CCP’s attack on Falun Gong practitioners shows the bankruptcy of its regime and the principles that guide its actions.

He stated that now more than ever, we need to promote the truth and firmly adhere to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Practitioners Who Were Persecuted by the CCP

Tian Shaochun talked about how he was persecuted.

Tian Shaochun, a Falun Gong practitioner from Liaoning, China who now lives in Calgary, said that he and his family were victims of the CCP’s policy of genocide against Falun Gong. His parents were sent to forced labor camps, and he was arrested many times and incarcerated in labor camps twice. Mr. Tian said, “In the labor camp, because I refused to recite the camp rules and refused to give up my belief, I was repeatedly shocked with electric batons, force-fed, beaten, physically punished, and persecuted. My life was in danger several times.”

He called on Chinese people to withdraw from the CCP, the Communist Youth League, and the Young Pioneers as soon as possible for a better future. He wished the officials at all levels in China and the CCP’s overseas consulates to distinguish right from wrong, make good use of their power, and in doing so, accumulate blessings.

Echo Li described how she was persecuted.

Echo Li, a Falun Gong practitioner from Wuhan who now lives in Toronto, described how she was persecuted by the CCP. She first talked about how she was illegally arrested many times, and, “...detained in different police stations, detention centers, labor camps, and brainwashing centers in different cities. I was force-fed many times for hunger strike protests.”

Echo then described the torture she had endured: “I was deprived of sleep for a long time, forced to squat all day and all night without moving, my legs and feet were swollen, and my big toe nail fell off. I was not allowed to urinate or defecate for a long time. I was forced to take a bath with ice water in the middle of the night throughout the winter. I was forced to carry manure to water the vegetable garden, and my shoulders and neck were repeatedly hurt by a carrying pole. Although it has been 20 years, the scars on my elbows and shoulders are still clearly visible.”

Echo thanked the Canadian government for hosting so many Falun Gong practitioners, and allowing them to practice freely, clarify the truth, and hold such rallies. She also thanked government officials and people from other countries for their kindness and support for Falun Gong.

Yang Zhihong, a Falun Gong practitioner from Shandong who currently lives in Toronto, spoke at the rally. She said she witnessed practitioners being beaten by the police when they went to Beijing to appeal. She herself was also seized and persecuted for appealing.

Ms. Yang recalled, “(The petitioners) shouted ‘Falun Dafa is good.’ Some of them were kicked to the ground by the police as soon as they opened the banner. Some were asked, ‘Are you Falun Gong?’ They were knocked to the ground and handcuffed as soon as they answered yes. The police handcuffed me and my fellow practitioners and took us to the police station for detention. We stood for a long time and were not allowed to sleep. My calves and feet soon became swollen.”

She said, “The examples of the evil CCP persecuting Falun Gong are too numerous to list. Countless Falun Gong practitioners have been severely persecuted and had their families torn apart for upholding their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. I call on the world to recognize the evil nature of the CCP and resist the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa together.”