(Minghui.org) Practitioners held a rally on the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Thursday, July 17, 2025. They and their supporters called to help end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa that was launched 26 years ago by the then CCP leader Jiang Zemin.

Members of Congress, think tank experts and representatives from NGO's came to the rally to support practitioners and to condemn the ongoing persecution. They said they admired the practitioners for holding on to their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance despite the persecution.

Practitioners gathered in Washington D.C. on July 17, 2025 and held a rally to protest the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa.

Congressman Pat Ryan: Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance serves as a beacon for everyone

Representative Pat Ryan spoke at the rally on July 17, 2025.

Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) addressed the more than one thousand practitioners at the rally, “Thank you to everyone here for braving the heat to join us. You being here represents millions of people. Your voice and presence carry significance. I am honored to be here with you and witness your presence- it’s a testament to your deep commitment to the principles of Falun Gong.

“Your unwavering adherence to the values that we see here so powerfully today, of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, truly serves as a beacon for everyone in our great country, in the United States America. Of course it includes everyone in my district in the Hudson Valley, and everyone in the world.

“You serve as a beacon for everyone to aspire to, especially during these turbulent times.”

Ryan said that after seeing the egregious violations of the practitioners’ rights and values, he was proud to have co-sponsored the Falun Gong Protection Act.

As he represents Orange County, NY, where the global headquarters of Shen Yun in Dragon Springs is located, Ryan said that he, his wife, his team and congressional staff went to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to watch Shen Yun last year. He said, “I want to especially commend these artists and reiterate my commitment: Shen Yun should and must be able to perform in every corner of the United States and around the world. We will continue to work hard to ensure that Shen Yun performs smoothly, no matter what threats we face.”

Ryan said that he was a former army officer and risked his life to protect this great country. Today he wants to safeguard freedom, as he told everyone at the rally, “I will stand up, and fight to protect every one of you.”

CECC Staff Director: Hold those who participate in organ harvesting responsible

Piero Tozzi is the Staff Director of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Piero Tozzi is the Staff Director of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). Tozzi represented senator Dan Sullivan, Chair of CECC, and Rep. Chris Smith, Co-Chair of CECC, at the rally.

Tozzi said that the persecution of Falun Gong continues to happen, and live organ harvesting is the worst of all the human rights violations perpetrated against practitioners. He said, “Rep. Smith will again take the initiative to write to the State Department, and urge the State Department to use the Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program to find out who in the CCP participated in the heinous crime of forced organ harvesting and hold them responsible.”

USCIRF Commissioner: CCP Repeatedly Persecutes Falun Gong Practitioners

Mohamed Elsanousi, Commissioner of USCIRF, spoke at the rally.

Mohamed Elsanousi, commissioner of United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), came to the rally to show his support for practitioners and said, “Year after year, harrowing stories of the Chinese government’s abuses against Falun Gong practitioners repeat themselves: surveillance, harassment, fines, detentions, imprisonments, torture, medical neglect, dehumanizing treatment, and even death.

“Freedom of religion or belief is a right all countries must preserve and protect, and the United States must continue to lead as a powerful voice for all those who live under religious repression.”

Director at Hudson Institute: Transnational persecution of Falun Gong in the United States is unacceptable

Nina Shea, Director of Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute, spoke at the rally.

Nina Shea, Director of the Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute, continues to pay attention to the persecution and support practitioners’ efforts to end these human rights violations. She called on the CCP to immediately stop the ongoing persecution: “The threat to Falun Gong and other forbidden groups is coming [to the United States]. I have shockingly found that in the past decades, the CCP continues to deploy special agents here, who threatened to bomb [theaters] and attempted to revoke Shen Yun’s tax-exempt status, and even conducted personal attacks and character assassination.

“This is unacceptable. It’s un-American, it’s a denial of religious freedom and a denial of free speech,” she said.

Faith McDonnell, Director of advocacy at the US-based Katartismos Global, spoke at the rally.

Faith McDonnell, Director of advocacy at the US-based Katartismos Global, said, “The CCP’s attacks on Shen Yun along with Falun Gong represent a great escalation of methods of infiltration to subvert Falun Gong’s voice.”

She said the CCP seems to have discovered the power of art in advocacy and is, “Targeting the creative and beautiful work of Shen Yun.” “[And] one of the methods used by the CCP to demonize Falun Gong and Shen Yun is The New York Times newspaper.”

Sekan Tas, Associate Director of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation China Studies, spoke at the rally.

Sekan Tas, Associate Director of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation China Studies, warned people about the danger the CCP poses. He said, “We must remain vigilant as China’s persecution of Falun Gong extends far beyond its borders. Chinese authorities regularly engage in transnational repression, including within the United States.”

President of Christian Freedom International: Thank you for never giving up

Wendy Wright, President of Christian Freedom International, addressed the rally.

Wendy Wright, President of Christian Freedom International, thanked the practitioners at the rally. “It is the CCP that poses a threat to all of humanity, not Falun Gong practitioners. Now we see millions of people standing with you, more and more people are supporting you because you have shown them how we should uphold our faith in the face of persecution. You have been exposing the truth of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. On behalf of Christians, I thank you for never giving up.”

Senior Fellow of International Assessment and Strategy Center: Proud to stand with Falun Gong practitioners

Rick Fisher, senior fellow of International Assessment and Strategy Center, spoke at the rally.

Rick Fisher, senior fellow of International Assessment and Strategy Center, began his speech by saying.,“Falun Dafa is good” in Chinese.

Fisher said, “It is an honor to stand before you. It is also an honor to endure this heat with you, because your love for your family, your colleagues, and this world shines brightly, and your determination to fight the biggest criminal group [CCP] in human history also gives out strong light.

“I cannot personally experience what you have endured, but I can express my most sincere respect for your indomitable will and your courage to fight this criminal group. You have never backed down in the face of [the CCP’s] cruel persecution.

“I am grateful for your courage to stand up on a hot day like today; you bravely fighting the CCP criminal group has brightened all democratic countries. Your standing here today is proof that you have the strength to stand up to this criminal group. You even gave a chance to the members of that criminal group to withdraw from the CCP and return to the forgiving human society that has human rights and freedom of belief.”

Director of Communication of Creative Society: We must stop the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong

Valerie Smian, director of communication of Creative Society, spoke at the rally.

Valerie Smian, director of communication of Creative Society, pointed out at the rally that people should no longer ignore the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. “If we don’t stop [the persecution], tomorrow they’ll come after you, taking away your free thoughts, taking away your independent beliefs, taking away your conscience. All of these will be labeled, targeted, and eliminated. We must stop it.”

Executive Director of Committee for Human Rights in North Korea: Falun Gong provides a terrific role model

Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, spoke at the rally.

Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, expressed his respect for practitioners and said, “Ruthless CCP campaigns have aimed to eradicated the multi-millennial, ancient, rich traditions that you have preserved and cherished. These traditions incorporate fundamental, universal values, including truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. As a student of China, please allow me to take the liberty of saying that it is you, and not the CCP, who defined the distinctive features of the Chinese people, the Chinese identity, the Chinese spirit and soul. As a fellow human rights defender, let me assure you that you have our full admiration and support. You truly provide a terrific role model.

“Your resilience, your tenacity, and your relentless struggle bring hope to all of us. The struggle will be long, strenuous, and dangerous. And truth, compassion, tolerance, and human rights will always prevail. We shall prevail and soon celebrate the fall of tyrants and the triumph of the values we hold so dear.”