California, USA: Events Raise Awareness of the Persecution of Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) July 20, 2025, marked the 26th anniversary of Falun Gong’s resistance to the persecution. Falun Gong practitioners in Los Angeles held a rally, exercise demonstration, and a march to commemorate those who have died in the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They also shared information about the persecution with the public and called for an immediate end to the CCP’s human rights abuses.

Falun Gong Exercise Demonstration

Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated the exercises in a park next to Santa Monica Beach in the morning, drawing the attention of many people. Some passersby joined in and learned the exercises.

Falun Gong exercise demonstration near Santa Monica Beach in Los Angeles on July 27, 2025

Brendan Clarke and Jesse Porter live near Santa Monica and had heard about the Falun Gong events online, so had decided to learn the exercises during the event. “I felt great after the exercises. It was so calming. I loved it, and everyone here was so friendly,” Mr. Clarke said.

Ms. Porter said that she felt that the exercises were very relaxing and peaceful. Both said this wonderful practice should be widespread and they strongly support the U.S. government’s call for justice and to stop the CCP’s persecution.

Local residents Brendan Clarke and Jesse Porter joined Falun Gong practitioners’ exercise demonstration at Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles, on July 27, 2025.

Rally at Santa Monica Pier

A rally was held after the exercise demonstration. Hundreds of practitioners gathered at Santa Monica Pier, a popular tourist destination, holding banners and signs emblazoned with, “SOS! Stop Forced Organ Harvesting from Live Falun Gong Practitioners in China,” and, “Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong.” Some tourists commented that the CCP should not treat such a kindhearted group this way.

Falun Gong practitioners stage a rally at Santa Monica pier on July 27, 2025.

Los Angeles Falun Gong practitioner Zhu Yujie demanded that the Chinese communist regime immediately release Luo Jing, a Falun Gong practitioner and staff member of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Luo Jing was arrested by police in Henan Province on September 21, 2023, and detained in Luoyang City. The police ransacked her house and took everything of value. The Jianxi District Court of Luoyang City illegally sentenced Luo Jing to three and a half years in prison and fined her 15,000 yuan (US$2,000) on April 30, 2024.

“Luo Jing is a recognized good person both at the university and at home. She has an elderly mother at home, and the persecution of Luo Jing has also greatly harmed the elderly and children in her family,” Zhu Yujie said.

Luo Jing’s son, who recently graduated from college, was also at the rally. He said, “As far as I can remember, my mother has been illegally sentenced by the CCP several times. Now, standing on the free land of the United States, I not only want to rescue my mother and all detained Falun Gong practitioners, but I also want to convey a clear message: There is nothing wrong with practicing Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance!”

Luo Jing’s son, whose mother is imprisoned in China, called for his mother’s release.

Xie Juan

Xie Juan spoke at the rally and called on the CCP to release Hu Zihua, Deng Yue'e, and other Falun Gong practitioners from her hometown. She said that many happy families have been torn apart by the persecution, and the CCP regime even conducts forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners for profit.

Ms. Xie said the CCP’s heinous crimes are too numerous to list.

March at Santa Monica Pier

In the afternoon of July 27, 2025, Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful march on Santa Monica Pier. As their banners and handheld signs passed through the bustling crowd, groups of tourists and citizens stopped to read the information, and some people took the initiative to join the march.

Falun Gong practitioners hold a march on Santa Monica Pier on July 27, 2025, to call attention to the persecution in China.

After learning about the persecution, people sign a petition to support Falun Gong.

Italian tourist Alessandra Cecere said, “I was captivated by this group of people. I’m very interested and want to learn more. In my opinion, the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the most important. This practice is very helpful especially in today’s world.”

Cecere’s daughter Nausica said, “We I saw them [the Falun Dafa practitioners], I felt very peaceful and calm. I support Falun Gong. I don’t understand why such kindness is persecuted.”