(Minghui.org) Practitioners wearing bright yellow jackets demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises along Rose Bay beach in Sydney on August 11, 2024. Along with banners containing messages such as, “Falun Dafa Is Great” and “Falun Dafa is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance,” they were an eye-catching scene, and many participants in the City2Surf marathon noticed them. Thousands of runners participated in the popular annual marathon, and some people said about Falun Dafa, “It’s great to see such peaceful exercises!”

Participants in the City2Surf marathon noticed practitioners as they did the Falun Dafa exercises.

The annual City2Surf marathon is Australia’s largest marathon. Over the past 50 years, City2Surf went from a local race to one of the world’s largest fun runs attracting more than 85,000 participants from across the globe. Participants in the event raise funds for more than 100 charity organizations. Many marathon runners waved as they ran past practitioners, and some called out, “What you are doing is amazing!”

It’s Important to Know the Truth

Tamara Power, who attends a nursing school in Sydney, said, “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are wonderful.”

Tamara Power attends a nursing school in Sydney and said she had heard of Falun Dafa before but didn’t know much about the spiritual practice. When she learned of the persecution in China, she said that of course this should be stopped. When she was told that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) not only persecutes practitioners, but removes their organs without consent, she said, “Wow, this is disgusting! Especially when I see Falun Dafa is such a beautiful, gentle cultivation practice.”

She also said that she felt a calm energy as she ran past the information booth. She thought the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance benefit society, “Very peaceful. When I read the words Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, I thought, wow, this is great. I need this. We need more things like this. I thought these three things had disappeared in today’s world.”

She also said it’s important for people to know the truth. “Especially in this era filled with lies and AI, I think it’s crucial to know the facts.”

“I’m a nurse, so I hope that everyone has empathy,” Tamara said after signing the petition to call for an end to the persecution. “We should hold more activities to tell people about this persecution.”

We Must Stop This Persecution

Rodrigo Seijas told practitioners, “What you are doing is amazing.”

Rodrigo Seijas had never heard of Falun Dafa before, but when he saw people doing the exercises, he thought it was peaceful, “I love them. Yes, absolutely beautiful presentation. What you are doing is amazing.”

He praised Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance and said, “Everyone needs these values.”

He thought people should stop the CCP from persecuting Falun Dafa in China, “Of course, 100 percent, we should stop this.”

He hopes practitioners will continue to work hard to let everyone learn the truth. “That way, people can make the right choice. There’s no doubt, it’s a good thing to learn the facts.”

Glenn William said, “We must stop this persecution.”

Glen William said it was the first time that he's heard of Falun Dafa and the persecution suffered by practitioners in China. After a practitioner explained the situation to him, he said, “We must stop this.”

He added, “I felt peaceful watching practitioners do the exercises and meditating today. They have great, positive energy.”

Participants in the City2Surf race sign the petition to support calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Dafa in China.