(Minghui.org) The annual Ann Arbor Art Fair was held in Ann Arbor from July 17 to July 19, 2025. It is one of the largest art fairs in the country, drawing nearly 1000 artists from around the United States every year. An estimated 500,000 tourists go to the fair because of its reputation.

Falun Gong practitioners in Michigan have participated in this major event for many years. This year, they had an information booth to show people the exercises, share the benefits of the practice, and raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 26-year-long persecution.

Practitioners displayed information introducing the practice and had flyers in four languages. They spoke to visitors about the health improvements practitioners have experienced and about the suppression in China. They also raised awareness of how the CCP has been using the media in the US to slander Shen Yun Performing Arts and Falun Gong practitioners in recent years.

People stopped to learn about Falun Gong at the annual Ann Arbor Art Fair.

Practitioners demonstrate the five exercises at the fair.

People who stopped by expressed their sympathy for practitioners and their indignation at the CCP’s inhuman persecution. They were concerned to learn that this persecution has extended onto US soil. Many signed the petition calling on the US Senate to pass the Falun Gong Protection Act. The act, which has already passed the US House of Representatives, would impose sanctions on Chinese Communist Party members who have participated in the persecution of Falun Gong.

People who asked where they could learn the exercises either left their contact numbers or obtained information about local practice sites. 

Practitioners spoke to tourists from different parts of the country at the event.

People Learn About Falun Gong

During the three-day event, many people learned about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution.

Robert Lawson from Milford, Michigan, told practitioners he’d heard of the practice over a decade ago and was aware of the persecution. He wanted to find out more about Falun Gong after seeing the booth.

When a practitioner told him that Falun Gong practitioners strive to be better people by following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, he smiled and said, “Forbearance. That is so hard. I need to endure.”

When he learned about the forced organ harvesting, he said indignantly, “This is heinous. It’s evil.” He noticed a yellow hat on the table with the words “Falun Dafa Is Good” embroidered on it and asked if he could have it. A practitioner gave him the hat and saw his face light up when he put it on. He told the practitioner he would tell his friends about the persecution.

Marcia Castellani is a retired automotive engineer. She brought her two nieces over to the Falun Gong booth and told everyone that, many years ago she had a coworker who practiced Falun Gong and she learned about the practice from him. She was full of praise for this coworker’s character and got a copy of the book Zhuan Falun after he told her about the benefits of the practice. She signed the petition and said she would continue to read Zhuan Falun.

When two young students from the University of Michigan asked about Falun Gong, a practitioner told them some of the benefits people have experienced after practicing it and also told them about the persecution that started in 1999 and continues to this day. The two took flyers and wanted to learn more about the practice and the teachings. They were angry to hear about the brutal tactics used by the CCP to stop people from practicing Falun Gong and expressed their sympathy. They were especially appalled at the forced organ harvesting. The male student said he would research the issue.

A family of three who were interested in the exercises and the teachings decided to do more in-depth research at home. The mother and daughter signed the petition, and the mother said she would get her friends and relatives to stop by the Falun Gong booth.

A migrant from Argentina brought his parents to the stall after hearing a practitioner’s introduction. His mother admired the elderly practitioners for being able to sit in full lotus position for the meditation exercise. A practitioner encouraged her: “Falun Gong is suitable for men and women, old and young. You can do it, too.” She signed the petition and took a dozen flyers to give to friends and family.

An Indian couple were upset to hear about the forced organ harvesting. They signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Chinese Family Learns about the Persecution

A Chinese woman and her five-year-old daughter were accompanied by her parents, who were visiting. They listened to practitioners talk about the persecution for more than 20 minutes. Mary, a practitioner, told the young mother how great Falun Dafa is and that the persecution in China is illegal. The young woman listened intently. Another practitioner spoke to her parents in Chinese, explaining the lies the CCP fabricated to justify the persecution. They told practitioners they loved reading the news in the media outlet founded by Falun Gong practitioners and were keen to find out more about the practice.

As a young Chinese father with two children and his parents passed by the booth, the children were drawn to the small origami lotus flowers. When their father tried to stop them from going to the booth, a practitioner tried to hand the father a flyer, but he wouldn’t take it. The practitioner said, “Why don’t you learn about the facts since you are outside of China now. Things are different from what the CCP told you.” The man took the flyer.

A young woman from Taiwan was surprised to see the Falun Gong information booth. She said she once saw practitioners near the 101 Tower in Taipei. She asked if Shen Yun promoted a religious belief. The practitioner explained that Shen Yun is not promoting religion: It 's presenting universal values and the 5,000 years of divinely-inspired culture before communism. That is why it has become so popular worldwide. The woman smiled and said she understood.