(Minghui.org) July 20, 2024, was the 25^th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ efforts to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. They held a rally on Elizabeth Square in Auckland on July 21, calling on everyone to speak up and work together to end the CCP’s brutality.

Practitioners held a rally on Elizabeth Square in Auckland on July 21. 

The Tian Guo Land Marching Band performed during the rally. 

People learn the Falun Gong exercises. 

Passersby learn about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution. 

Three practitioners described how they were persecuted by the CCP in China.

Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore, President Barry Wilson of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, and guest David Wang spoke in support of practitioners’ efforts to expose and resist the CCP.

That evening, practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy in Auckland to commemorate those practitioners who were persecuted to death for upholding their beliefs. They called on the people of New Zealand to help stop the CCP’s persecution. Drivers in passing vehicles honked their horns to show their support.

Candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy in Auckland. 

Human Rights Lawyer Wants the Government to Pass Legislation to Hold the CCP Perpetrators Accountable

Human Rights Lawyer Kerry Gore addressed the rally.

Human Rights Lawyer Kerry Gore said at the rally, “The Chinese Communist Party has persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China for 25 years now. The forms of persecution are various: unlawful arrest, illegal detention, indoctrination, forcing Falun Gong practitioners to renounce their beliefs, physical torture, slavery and forced labour, destitution in an effort to avoid further persecution, and involuntary live organ harvesting of one's vital organs. The latter is a form of state-sanctioned murder.” Independent international organizations have verified that form of persecution in detail. 

He continued, “Yet, in spite of this persecution, Falun Gong practitioners in China do their best to help other Chinese people [understand the truth] of the persecution and [recognize] the [brutal] nature of the Chinese Communist Party, often at a risk to their own lives.

“This must surely command our respect and admiration. The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance have enabled practitioners in China to survive and in some cases, flourish in an environment as repressive as this. Those principles may well have something to recommend for us in this country.”

He said New Zealand should introduce the Magnitsky Act legislation so that those who are implicated in this persecution are held responsible. Extra-territorial legislation could criminalize organ transplant tourism and those involved in it.

President of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties Thanks Practitioners for Their Perseverance

Barry Wilson, President of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, addressed the rally.

Barry Wilson, President of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, condemned the CCP’s atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and praised practitioners for their consistent efforts to protest the persecution for 25 years.

Wilson said that in 2018, an independent legal institution found that the Chinese government harvested organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and killed them, among other evil deeds. Many practitioners are being tortured and [secretly] executed.

Wilson also mentioned the CCP’s dictatorship over Taiwan and Hong Kong and other issues, as well as its persecution of other religious groups. He said, “I thank Falun Gong practitioners for your passion, activism, and persistence in telling the truth.”

Raising Awareness to Awaken More Chinese People 

David Wang addressed the rally. 

David Wang from the Auckland Democratic Volunteers said at the rally, “On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party and its government launched a brutal crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners. Since that day, the CCP has never stopped torturing and persecuting Falun Gong practitioners for 25 years, which is outrageous. Falun Gong practitioners have never stopped pursuing their beliefs and exposing and resisting the CCP, which is respected by the world.

“The United Nations has strongly condemned torture and has determined that torture is one of the most heinous crimes committed by humans against their fellow citizens. It has passed the Convention against Torture and requires all States to eliminate torture and other persecutions. However, the CCP, which seized power by violence, has been in power for 75 years and has continued to rely on violence to maintain its rule. Various tortures are its main means of persecution.”

He emphasized, “To stop the CCP’s tyranny and persecution, we need the help of the people of the world and, more importantly, the general awakening of the Chinese people. Therefore, I respectfully ask Chinese people outside of China to protect themselves and expose the darkness and spread the truth in China to awaken more compatriots.”

Company Founder Supports Falun Gong

Ernest Gibbs hopes practitioners continue fighting for justice. 

Ernest Gibbs is the founder of a construction company. He has many insights into the values of Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution of practitioners.

Gibbs mentioned that, about 20 years ago, he saw Falun Gong practitioners protesting peacefully in front of the Chinese Embassy in Auckland. That was the first time he heard of Falun Gong. He said, “The Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that Falun Gong believes in are undoubtedly good and universal values. I couldn’t agree more.”

Gibbs said his great-grandfather was from Guangdong Province, China. He said that the Chinese people and culture are good, but the CCP is completely the opposite, “The CCP wants its own power, but they don’t have compassion and tolerance. Communism is all about power and control. They want to control everything, control how people live and think, to deprive people of the right to freedom of belief and freedom of speech.

“New Zealand is a free country. We have freedom of belief and religion. These are very important. We in New Zealand never want communism.” He told practitioners, “Keep fighting for justice and stick to your beliefs. I believe any clear-headed New Zealanders will support Falun Gong.”

God Is with You in the Darkness

Julie Nathan

Julie Nathan said she’s seen practitioners’ events several times in the city center and is aware of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.

She agrees with the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that Falun Gong follows and believes that the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong is very bad. She said, “The persecution is inhumane. I believe there are divine beings and evil in this world. Evil hurts and kills people out of a desire for power.”

Nathan said she’s Catholic and would pray for practitioners who are facing persecution, organ harvesting, and death due to the persecution. She wanted to say to all Falun Gong practitioners who are being persecuted, “God loves you. The persecution is not what God wants. God is with you in the darkness.”