Chicago, U.S.A.: Rally and Candlelight Vigil Commemorate Dafa Practitioners Who Died During 25 Years of Persecution

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in the greater Chicago area held a rally and candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate on July 20, 2024 to commemorate fellow practitioners who have lost their lives in the 25-year persecution perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During the rally practitioners called for an end to the CCP’s ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong). 

Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally and candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese consulate on July 20, 2024. 

End the Persecution and Hold the Persecutors Accountable

Several practitioners spoke at the rally. In her address, Ms. Su stated, “Falun Gong practitioners have gained the respect and increasing support from people worldwide during the process of peacefully exposing the persecution over the past 25 years. People around the world sign the petitions calling for an end of the persecution. Various governments condemn the CCP’s persecution and violation of human rights.” 

She said that the recent Falun Gong Protection Act passed by the U.S. Congress calls for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, with sanctions imposed on the persecutors. 

Practitioner Jasha addressed the rally and said that Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance bring people hope and let people know the true meaning of life. 

He said that from practitioners’ perspective, the real victims of the persecution are not practitioners themselves, but those who are poisoned by the CCP’s lies. The CCP’s lies, which slander Falun Gong, are destroying human beings. Practitioners clarify the truth to people and help them see the CCP’s crimes and discern the difference between the CCP and China.

Jasha addressed the rally on July 20, 2024.

The CCP’S Brutality Is Beyond Imagination

Ms. Li moved to U.S. in 2002. She attends the rally every year to demand an end to the persecution. She said, “We are not getting political or fighting the CCP. We are here to expose the persecution. It has been 25 years since the CCP started persecuting Falun Gong in July 1999. The persecution is still going on and hasn’t stopped.”

Ms. Li was arrested when she distributed Falun Gong fliers in Shenzhen, China in May 2001. She was detained for eight months with criminals in a small cell. The guards subjected her to brainwashing 24 hours a day. She lost her income and her pension. 

Ms. Li said that the CCP’s brutality is beyond people’s imagination. She said, “The CCP adopts the policy of damaging their [practitioners’] reputations, bankrupts them and destroys them physically. While I was detained in the labor camp, all Falun Gong practitioners had to undergo physical examinations. I was shocked when I learned in 2006 that the CCP harvested organs from living practitioners. I then understood why practitioners were subjected to blood tests, x-rays and heart check-ups, but not the regular inmates.

“We clarify the truth to people and hope that in the face of good and evil, they will choose kindness and righteousness and choose a good future for themselves.”

Ms. Li (middle) was sent to a forced labor camp in China, where she underwent medical examinations related to organ harvesting. 

It Is Most Evil to Persecute Cultivators Who Believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

Paul from Ukraine has practiced Falun Gong for seven years. He said that the book Zhuan Falun (the main text of Falun Gong) answered all his questions about the meaning of life. The first time he read Zhuan Falun, he knew that Falun Gong is a genuine cultivation way, spiritual cultivation. He said that he found the meaning of life, including how to do the right thing and how to be a good person. He felt happier. 

Paul attended the Chicago rally to let more people know about the CCP’s brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Many practitioners have been tortured and persecuted to death. He said that belief is the most important and precious thing for human beings and that it’s evil to persecute people who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. 

Paul (second on left) does the Falun Dafa exercises in front of the Chinese Consulate on July 20, 2024.

Hannah said that it’s very important to come to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago to tell people about the persecution and mourn practitioners who were persecuted to death. She said, “We come here to expose the persecution and let people know the truth, and hope that people will help stop the persecution. This is very important. We need support from the U.S. and other countries worldwide to help end this persecution.”

Hannah from Hanoi, Vietnam, now lives in Chicago. She manages a small family business. She feels fortunate to have learned about Falun Gong and said, “I’ve practiced Falun Gong for five years. I was very moved the first time I read Zhuan Falun. My health improved a lot after I began practicing Falun Gong, and I’m very grateful to Master Li.”

Hannah (right) participates in the candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate on July 20, 2024.

People Wish to Help End the Persecution

Mauricio Olivera and Evelyn Remive were moved by the peaceful candlelight vigil. Mauricio said that communism has brought evil and catastrophes to China and many other countries. He asked how he could help stop the persecution. 

Mauricio and Evelyn signed the petition and said that they would post the information on social media to let more people know the truth. 

Mauricio Olivera and Evelyn Remive were moved by the peaceful candlelight vigil. 

Jada Britt and Lindsay Johnson from Washington were visiting Chicago, and stopped to watch the rally. They said this was the first they’d heard about Falun Gong and the persecution. They thanked practitioners for raising awareness, and Jada said she appreciated Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She encouraged practitioners to keep up their efforts and wished them good luck. 

Jada Britt (left) and Lindsay Johnson (right) thanked practitioners for telling them about the persecution.

John Murphy praised practitioners for their peaceful protest and for practicing the Falun Gong exercises outside the Chinese Consulate. He said that these activities were very good and were a true American way, an efficient way to tell people the truth via kindness and forbearance. 

After he read the information John signed the petition. He was shocked to learn how evil the CCP was. 

John Murphy expressed his support for practitioners’ efforts to expose the persecution. 

Luis Deleon and Ana Garcia, from Chicago, stopped at the rally and learned how the CCP persecutes Falun Gong practitioners. They were stunned by the brutality and immediately signed the petition. Luis wanted to know more about Falun Gong, and both said they hoped the persecution would end soon.

Luis Deleon and Ana Garcia signed the petition and said they hope the persecution ends soon.