New York, USA: Rally Marks the 26th Anniversary of the April 25 Appeal

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) practitioners held a rally on Kissena Blvd. in Flushing, New York, on April 19, 2025, after they marched to commemorate the 26^th anniversary of the April 25 appeal. They also expressed support for the 445 million Chinese people who have quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.

Many people stopped to watch the rally. During the event, some Chinese people quit their memberships in the CCP and its affiliated organizations.

The speakers commended practitioners for following Falun Dafa’s principles, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and safeguarding these universal values. One speaker said practitioners’ continuous efforts to expose the CCP’s persecution and tell people about its brutality inspire everyone and brings the world hope.

Wang Zhiyuan, chair of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, said, “On April 25, 26 years ago, despite the CCP’s tyranny, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners peacefully and rationally defended the truth. Facing the CCP’s brutal persecution, practitioners neither violently protested nor silently endured. Instead, they clarified the truth, exposed the CCP’s crimes, and offered people salvation.”

Please Stand on the Right Side of History

Zhang Erping, spokesman for the Falun Dafa Information Center, said, “Falun Dafa was introduced in 1992. It takes Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance as the principles of practice and has five exercises. The practice has benefited the general public both physically and mentally, and elevated their realms. It has been passed on from person to person, and by 1999, the number of practitioners reached over 100 million.”

Mr. Zhang Erping, spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Information Center, addressed the rally on April 19.

“Persecuting Falun Gong is a crime against humanity, against human nature, and tramples on the most basic moral bottom line of mankind,” said Mr. Zhang. “Every Chinese with a conscience and the international community should stand up and stop this persecution. This is what every kind-hearted person with a basic conscience should do.

“Falun Gong practitioners have been fighting lies by telling the truth and fighting violence in a peaceful way. They received support and encouragement from all walks of life around the world. Falun Gong has gone global and spread to more than 100 countries. Falun Gong’s main book, Zhuan Falun has been translated into 50 languages. I hope every person will learn the truth, stand on the right side of history, and choose a better future for themselves.”

Practitioners Stand Up for Humanity

Jacqui Phillips, entrepreneur and international speaker, said in her speech, “Recalling the courage shown by tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in their peaceful petition in Beijing, people are moved by the power of peaceful resistance and the unwavering spirit of those who seek truth and justice. This important day marks a turning point and continues to inspire peaceful resistance around the world.”

Jacqui Phillips addressed the rally.

Jacqui Phillips said practitioners’ perseverance has shown the world the power of inner strength in the face of adversity. She said she was inspired by this and it summoned her inner courage to face major difficulties in life. She also prayed for the director of the documentary, State Organs, and the victim Zhang Yun mentioned in the film, thanking them for their courage in exposing the CCP’s forced organ harvesting.

She said, “I hope Falun Gong practitioners will always remember the power of their hearts and thank themselves, because the tide of change is flowing. Because of you, step by step, 445 million people have withdrawn from the CCP, the Youth League, and the Young Pioneers, and have stood up for humanity in the name of peace, truth, compassion, and patience.”

Zero Tolerance for the Persecution

Martha Flores-Vazquez, New York State Assembly district leader for Flushing, and Samuel Ortiz, who was an assistant district attorney, attended the rally. She first thanked the New York City Police Department and the 109th Precinct for providing security for the march.

Martha Flores-Vazquez (left), New York State Assembly district leader for Flushing, and Samuel Ortiz (right).

“People call me a fearless community leader because I stand with you, because I believe in you, because I will protect you, and because I have zero tolerance for persecution,” Ms. Flores-Vazquez said. “I have zero tolerance for inhumane behavior and zero tolerance for people who hurt you. Falun Gong and Shen Yun, the greatest show in New York City, are threatened, and we will not tolerate this. My commitment is with you forever.”

Awakening the World

Hu Liren, a former Shanghai businessman, said in his speech, “For more than 20 years, whether holding banners in the cold wind or quietly telling the truth on the streets, Falun Gong practitioners have shown the world what true justice is in a peaceful, rational, and resolute manner - there is no hatred, no violence, but only compassion and tenacity derived from faith. They have proved with their actions that even in the face of injustice, as long as we uphold the truth, we can ignite hope and illuminate our conscience.”

Hu Liren addressed the rally.

Hu continued, “Their persistence is not only for themselves, but also for the hundreds of millions of deceived people; their struggle is not for hatred, but to awaken the world to pay attention to human rights and freedom. Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the source of Falun Gong practitioners’ strength. Their pursuit of truth, their great love, and their tolerance without resentment and hatred are precisely the embodiment of their practice of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

“Isn’t this spirit what our society needs most?” Hu said, “In this world, technology can change life, but only conscience can change people’s hearts. Falun Gong practitioners have spent decades as a testimony to the immortality of conscience in the long river of history.”

Appreciation for Falun Gong

Wei Libin, New York director of the China Democracy and Human Rights Alliance, said that when he came to the U.S. seven years ago, the first thing he did was to go to the Global Service Center for Quitting the Party to complete the withdrawal process. He also participated in the parade and rally commemorating the April 25 appeal that year, and accepted an interview from The Epoch Times.

Wei Libin, New York director of the China Democracy and Human Rights Alliance, addressed the rally.

Because of the CCP’s cover-up up he did not know about the persecution until 2011 when he got around the Party’s information censorship and visited overseas websites.

Wei said, “The Chinese people owe Falun Gong an apology.” He said that many Chinese people, due to fear, ignorance or prejudice, remain silent and indifferent to the unprecedented persecution suffered by Falun Gong, and even become the CCP’s accomplices. However, Falun Gong practitioners have always been kind enough to help Chinese people and the world learn about the truth. In addition to developing software to bypass the CCP’s information censorship, they also founded various media and platforms such as The Epoch Times and NTDTV, giving the world a breath of fresh air and helping Chinese people withdraw from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. This is the contribution of Falun Gong practitioners to the world.

He hopes that people understand and accept Falun Gong, truly recognize the evil nature of the CCP, and be more courageous, so that the Chinese people can live happy, free, and dignified lives.

As the rally ended, the Tian Guo Marching Band played Falun Dafa Is Good.