(Minghui.org) Practitioners participated in the Dragon Festival held at Phalen Regional Park in St. Paul on July 13, 2024. They were invited to demonstrate the Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) exercises on stage, and many people said they were impressed by the calm exercises and praised the virtues of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

The Dragon Boat Festival is an annual Asian-Pacific cultural celebration that features dragon boat races, ethnic foods, and authentic cultural activities.

Crowds flocked to the popular event, and many people stopped by the Falun Dafa booth. People were shocked to learn how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes practitioners and expressed support—some said they admired their courage in standing up for the freedom of belief.

County Court Judge Tim Carey said, “If more people practiced Falun Gong, society would be more peaceful. If people followed Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, fewer people would end up in court.”

Practitioners in the Dragon Boat Festival at St. Paul’s Phalen Regional Park

Thanking Practitioners for Their Courage and Persistence

Two people said they’d heard about Falun Dafa and the persecution and asked practitioners how they view those who torture them. The practitioners replied, “Torture is illegal, especially if it’s because of one’s personal beliefs. Nevertheless, for 25 years, practitioners have peacefully and compassionately clarified the truth to everyone, including those who torture them, to help them understand what Falun Dafa is. Despite the persecution and torture, practitioners do not see their persecutors as their enemies. They know they are deceived by the CCP’s tactics. We hope the police and prison guards can see the beauty of Falun Dafa and make the right choice for themselves.”

Both listeners nodded and expressed their thanks.

County Court Judge: If More People Practiced Falun Gong, Society Would be More Peaceful

Many people took flyers and said the meditation was serene. Some said they knew about Falun Dafa and the persecution. Others expressed an interest in learning the exercises and asked about the times and locations where the exercises were practiced.

County Court Judge Tim Carey attended the Dragon Boat Festival. He told practitioners that being a judge is very stressful. He said, “If more people practiced Falun Dafa, society would be more peaceful. If people followed Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, fewer people would end up in court.” He took a flyer and said he would learn more about Falun Dafa.

When practitioners told a teenage boy that Falun Dafa was a peaceful mind-body exercise, he took a flyer and told his friend, “My mom needs this. I will give it to her.”

A man who teaches martial arts said he learned about Falun Dafa when he saw Shen Yun. He was aware that the CCP’s Cultural Revolution destroyed traditional Chinese culture. He was happy to meet practitioners and said he admired Shen Yun and wanted to learn more about Falun Dafa.

A Chinese woman said that she also practiced Falun Dafa. She had to travel between China and the U.S. to visit family and was aware of the CCP’s persecution, so she didn’t want others to know that she was a practitioner. Practitioners encouraged her to continue practicing and clarifying the truth to her friends.