(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners participated in the annual Poolesville Day parade and celebration on September 20, 2025. Many people stopped at their booth to learn about Falun Dafa and sign the petition calling to end the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution.
Poolesville is a historic town in northwestern Montgomery County, Maryland. It is considered one of the best places to live in Maryland and is about 33 miles from Washington, D.C. Every year, tens of thousands of local residents and people from surrounding areas come to participate in the parade and celebration.
Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the Poolesville Day parade on September 20, 2025.
Cars with messages about Falun Dafa joined the Poolesville Day parade on September 20, 2025.
The waist drum team performed in the Poolesville Day parade on September 20, 2025.
People Commend the Falun Dafa Group
The Falun Dafa practitioners’ car tour and waist drum group participated in the parade, drawing applause and cheers from spectators along the streets.
Laurie and Nikki cheered for the practitioners. They said they knew about Falun Dafa because they saw them march in the Labor Day parade in Gaithersburg, Maryland three weeks earlier.
Laurie said she stopped by the practitioners’ booth three years ago. She said, “(Falun Dafa practitioners) bring truth and compassion to the community, peace to the world, and peace to humanity.”
Laurie added, “I think (the waist drum troupe) is cool and eye-catching.” Nikki agreed, “They’re nice, and their costumes are beautiful.”
Laurie (right) and Nikki (left) watch the parade.
People Sign Petition Calling to End the Persecution
Many people went to the practitioners’ booth after the parade to learn more about Falun Dafa. After being told that the CCP imprisons and tortures practitioners, and even conducts state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting, people signed the petition calling to stop the human rights violations.
People sign the petition.
Amy and Connie passed by the practitioners’ booth and signed the petition. Connie said, “I think the forced organ harvesting is very immoral. So I signed the petition without hesitation.”
Amy said she picked up The Epoch Times at a subway station many years ago and read it. “As I learned more about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, it changed my perspective on China and the persecution, and why people are selectively outraged by it, and why we avoid it. I began to think about its impact. What is it that keeps us from knowing about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong?”
Amy said she later watched a Shen Yun performance at Kennedy Center. “It was truly wonderful. I believe what Falun Gong practitioners do truly upholds dignity and freedom, and the values they promote are American and Christian values. They transcend labels because they are God-given rights. So I’m very grateful for everything they do.”
Amy and Connie both strongly agree with the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Amy said, “How could anyone not agree with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance? These are the values we uphold.”
When John Chiavarimi and his wife saw the Falun Gong booth he immediately signed the petition. He said he had talked to practitioners when he visited Taiwan and took truth-clarifying materials, so he knew about the CCP’s persecution.
He said Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that is extremely beneficial to one’s health. “We strongly support Falun Gong,” he said.
John Chiavarimi signed the petition.
Local resident Patel said, “The message of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance is very good. We should be compassionate and tolerant. I like this message.”
Patel (left), listened to a practitioner’s explanation, and signed the petition.
Patel signed the petition after learned about the CCP’s persecution, and said the CCP’s forced organ harvesting is unacceptable.
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